FLS 

2015 

018824 



Washingtoniana 



□□□□575bfllS 






































































"b V . 



© * o 


f. ^ ^ > 

W 


* <1 I s O ^f. rfi __ 

^ ,.. V *• • ’*',/• .. % '* 

c. n 8 

** <&>%. \ • aV** Vft .*</> 

»*< ^ v “V ’ * <y X* •? 30 

' n^° ©-© %• <> '••■;• ,0' 

o $ , t. * v? 

V » rCVrtV^* 4 ’ * * - «P fV # © 

* 

o. 




© » © 


^CT 


— V V V. ° ^ °* 

O. O'* ^ '.^t* Jt> 

? A " O <\* v • » . ir^v VP 

- « v * - - -* ^ V *\*?* o 



&•%// 
• <^. 1 




“*4 

^ O, V 

/•U C ” •* £> 

•y. V *_c*sS?i [...*.* o 

V, 4 ' ' CVX ' kU,fc - 

* &0 2 PRia{/* * ' 0 * 

^ *®«o a ^ c o. <o v ^o. v © 

• *> , , „ * 2 '* _A. *P\ © N o 

V T V * T ©4 A ,fl* ft * # • 

fc& A. * <? _5i • sjJv “A. ^ » V-j-j, .(Tv. > ^ 

s» • *\V *^e* ^ ♦ VGIRv. ^ < 

H ;mam\ ^ : Msk ' 



; *? ^ 

4 r\ \k*_ # 

6 ^ 






** ^ ^ ‘ 

A^ 0 6 » • ^ ' * • * A <^ <4. * 0 

0 C. °_„ * o , v « * ^ 

° of 4 ^ C° . 

Or * 4 \A a» 


•* / ^ 



<t 

C\ *■ -tsfsV - %• 

* %. A *° *> 
a\ i; %* °* A J> ^o. W 

k • »> y * 4 <p„ 

»*> . -^, «, 

f Ju A> 



° «5 ^ 

A.r o * 

+> * 0 «'* ° / - 
’ > J V _ V • © 

' -V - ~ -'. ^ 




r* ^ a^ v / 

si r ^ ^ 


k * 

* 45 ? *As 



'* '° A ♦ 

: ^o t? ; 

v* 4.° •'j, 

.• o> -V % : 
•o ¥ , > •> 

♦ ^ 



*(> 


• o' 






O * • A) ’ 4 O 

O^. * • » ' * aO %> * « , o 9 A* 

• o O ,ft‘ .»•• , 4 \ 

, '♦.A -X*' . » ...Jt ♦ ■r V » ’ '"# p. 

\. ^ : S^ r , ilXi < '° \ / 

-'♦<’.*•• *• • * * v<.. . 

j* %, C° .iS». ** °o J* ♦•*„-•« 

.->► a jz.\\j/6yz? * * ^5ss\vir%* j.n ♦ 





® ^5 ^ 

♦^ *. 
• * ° * V . 


o . w , .- 

°* .w, 0 0 V' ... „ 

°- aO i‘ H ^ V s * *•» CV * 

.♦ "V. VwJreLXvr* «5 , ^'^0ik "• i.'tevfi ** 






J] Un i S 

BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS 

OF THE 

ILLUSTRIOUS 

GENERAL WASHINGTON, 

t 

LATE 

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 

CONTAINING 

A HISTORY 

OI THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS OF HIS LIFE, 

WITH HIS SPEECHES TO CONGRESS, 

AND PUBLIC ADDRESSES : 

TO WHICH IS ADDED, 

AN ORATION UPON HIS DEATH , 

BY THE REV. SAMUEL STANHOPE SMITH, 

4 

President of the College of New-Jcrscy. 



A NEW EDITION, IMPROVED. 


TRENTON: 

PRINTED* AND PUBLISHED BY JAMES ORAM. 


1811 . 







-CM* I 


"v; A f> H »hi 'j i o n i/ii V .‘ 
• ; - •.. . ... » 



BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS 


OF 

GEN. GEORGE WASHINGTON, ESQ. 

L A T E PRESIDENT 1 OF THE UNITED STATES , &C. 


I N the history of Man, we contemplate with particu¬ 
lar satisfaction, those legislators, heroes, and philo¬ 
sophers, whose wisdom, valour, and virtue, have contri¬ 
buted to the happiness of the human species.—We 
trace the luminous progress of those excellent beings 
with secret complacency; our emulation is roused, while 
we behold them steadily pursue the path of rectitude, in 
defiance of every obstruction; we rejoice that we are 
of the same species, and thus self-love becomes the 
hand-maid of virtue. 

The authentic pages of biography unite the most 
grateful amusement with instruction.—Truth supports 
the dignity of the historic muse, who will not admit of 
either fulsome panegyric, or invidious censure.—She 
describes her hero with genuine simplicity—mentions 
his frailties, his characteristic peculiarities, and his shin¬ 
ing qualities.—In short, she gives a faithful and lively 
portrait of the man, investigates the latent motives of 
his actions, and celebrates those virtues which have 
raised him to an enviable pre-eminence above his co¬ 
temporaries. 

We sympathize in the sufferings, and participate the 
triumphs of those great men who stand 

“ Majestic ’mid the monuments of Time 

and the approbation of excellence in others, naturally 
leads the mind to imitate the object of its adoration. 

Among those patriots who have a claim to our vene¬ 
ration, George Washington appears in a conspicuous 
place in the first rank. This illustrious man was born 


232 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


February 22d, 1732, in the parish of Washington, West¬ 
moreland county, in the state of Virginia. His ances¬ 
tors were possessed of property in England, near Cave, 
in the east riding of Yorkshire, which they sold, and 
came over to America in the year 1657, and purchased 
lands in King George county, Virginia. His father, 
Mr. Augustus Washington, was the second in descent 
after their emigration, and had a numerous offspring. 
He was possessed of large property, and of distinguish¬ 
ed reputation. George was his third son, and the first 
fruit of his second marriage. He received his education 
under the eye of his father, from a private tutor, under 
whom he acquired a knowledge of the Latin language, 
sufficient for the ordinary purposes of life, his mother- 
tongue grammatically, and the elements of mathema¬ 
tics, which he, in his rising years, carefully improved 
by practical experiments in topographical and military 
plans. When he was but ten years of age, his father 
died, and, at fifteen, he was entered a midshipman on 
board a British ship of war then stationed on the coast of 
Virginia. But after his baggage had been packed up for 
embarkation, the plan was abandoned, in obedience to 
the calls of maternal affection. For several years after 
he quitted his tutor, the learning he had acquired was 
much improved by a disposition to study, and he partic¬ 
ularly applied himself to the practical parts of survey¬ 
ing, a knowledge of which was then, as it is now, very 
important and necessary to men of landed property in 
every part of the American continent. His merits in this 
branch of knowledge, occasioned him being nominated 
surveyor to a certain district in Virginia, an appointment 
rather creditable than lucrative ; but which afforded him 
advantageous opportunities, particularly an acquaintance 
with the country, the properties of lands, and the situa¬ 
tions and direction of crqeks and rivers, and it enabled 
him to make a choice of some valuable tracts of land 
for subsequent purchase. 

After his father died, the charge of the family de¬ 
volved on his elder brother Lawrence, a young man of 
the most promising talents; who, at that time, was a 
captain, under admiral Vernon, in the colonial troops 
employed in the expedition against Carthagena; upon 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


2 S3 


his return, having come into the possession of his patri¬ 
monial estates, in honour of his admiral, from whom he 
had received many civilities, he named his new mansion 
Mount-Vernon. He was afterwards made adjutant-gene¬ 
ral of the militia of Virginia, but did not long survive, 
and on his demise (notwithstanding there were heirs of 
an elder branch, who possess a large share of the patri¬ 
mony) the eldest son by the second marriage inherited 
the part upon which that seat now stands, and a consider¬ 
able landed property attached to it. 

At the death of his brother, the vacant office of adju¬ 
tant-general was in consequence of the encreased popu¬ 
lation and extensive limits of the colony, divided into 
three districts, and the future Hero of America , before 
he was twenty years of age, began his military career, 
by an appointment to the rank of major in that depart¬ 
ment. 

In 1753, an event occurred, which called his abilities 
into more active public notice. The jealousies of the 
French and English governments were at their height. 
Encroachments were reported to have been made by the 
former from their settlements in Canada, on the frontier 
territories of the British colonies, along the rivers Ohio 
and de Boeuf.* Orders were received from England, by 
the governor and council of Virginia, to repel by force 
these encroachments ; in consequence of which, lieuten¬ 
ant-governor Dinwiddie dispatched young major Wash¬ 
ington, with plenary powers to ascertain the facts, treat 
with the Indians, and to engage them to continue firm 
in their attachment to England, and to warn the French 
to desist from the inroads they were making, in direct 
violation of the treaties then subsisting between the two 
crowns. This mission he performed with singular in¬ 
dustry, intelligence and address. 

The appointment of major Washington was deemed 
a circumstance somewhat extraordinary at that period ; 
it was said that a youth unacquainted with the enlarged 
commerce of the world, unexperienced in political 
concerns, appeared to be unfit to be employed to con¬ 
duct a negociation, wherein subjects of the greatest 

* French Creek. 

X 2 


23.4 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


importance were involved : It was true that the subjects 
were important, for they shortly after became the origin 
of a war between the two nations, which raged for many 
years, and extended throughout every part of the globe, 
and which ended in the final expulsion of the French 
from the continent. 

But those who had formed such superficial notions of 
the major, were, in the end, deceived by the success and 
abilities manifested through the whole transaction. This 
having been the first effort of that career which has ter¬ 
minated with so much splendor in history, and honour 
and happiness to himself and his country. 

On his return from this perilous embassy, with Mons. 
de St. Pierre’s answer, and his good success in the In¬ 
dian negociations, major Washington was complimented 
with the thanks and approbation of his country. His jour¬ 
nal does great credit to his industry, attention, and judg¬ 
ment; and it has since proved of infinite service to 
those who have been doomed to traverse the same in¬ 
hospitable tracts. 

Governor Dinwiddie’s letter to the French command¬ 
ant, and M. de St. Pierre’s answer, have been published 
in several periodical works, both in America and in Bri¬ 
tain. The governor’s letter stated, that he had heard 
with surprise and concern, that the French were erect¬ 
ing fortresses and making settlements in the lands upon 
the river Ohio, which are the property of the crown of 
Great Britain; in consequence of which, he is induced 
in the name of the king, to send the bearer, G. Wash¬ 
ington, Esq. one of the adjutants-general of the forces 
of Virginia, to complain of the encroachments made in 
violation of the treaties subsisting between the two 
crowns, requesting by whose authority he had marched 
from Canada with an armed force to invade the British 
territories, and that the French forces depart peaceably 
without prosecuting a purpose so interruptive to the har¬ 
mony which his majesty is so desirous to continue and 
cultivate with the most Christian king. Also, that major 
Washington might be entertained with the politeness 
due to his rank. The French commandant’s answer 
only stated, that he would transmit the governor’s letter 
to Canada, to his general, the marquis du Quesne, by 


GEORGE WASHINGTON, 


235 

- V 

whose answer he would be guided; that he was upon 
French ground, by the orders of his general, conse¬ 
quently that he could not obey the summons of the go*- 
vernor; and that he had made it his particular care to 
receive Mr. Washington with the distinction suitable to 
his dignity. 

In 1754, the designs of the French becoming more 
manifest, and their movements more daring, orders were 
issued by administration for the colonies to arm and 
unite in one confederacy. The assembly of Virginia took 
the lead, by voting a sum of money for the public ser¬ 
vice, and raising a regiment for the protection of the 
frontiers of the colony. Of this corps, Mr* Fry, one of 
the professors of the college, was appointed colonel, and 
major Washington received the commission of lieuten¬ 
ant colonel. But colonel Fry died without ever having 
joined; and of course left his regiment to the second in 
command. He began his march on the 2d of April, from 
Alexandria, having under his command one hundred and 
fifty men. His orders were to march towards the Ohio, 
there to assist captain Trent to build forts, and defend 
the possessions of his majesty against the attempts and 
hostilities of the French. During his march, he was join¬ 
ed by a small detachment under command of captain 
Stephens, and when he had proceeded as far as Wills- 
Creek, he received intelligence that captain Trent had 
been obliged to surrender the fort which he had erected 
between the Ohio and French-Creek, to a body of about 
eight hundred French, commanded by captain Contre- 
coeur ; whereupon, colonel Washington, deeming it im¬ 
practicable to march towards the fort without sufficient 
force, thought it most prudent to proceed to open roads 
so as to pre-occupy the advantageous post at the conflu¬ 
ence of the Alleghany and Monongahcla rivers, which 
in his journal he recommended for that purpose. He 
was to have been joined by a detachment of independent 
regulars from the southern colonies, together with some 
companies of provincials from North Carolina and Ma¬ 
ryland. But, perceiving the necessity of expedition, and 
without waiting for their arrival, he commenced his 
march; but, notwithstanding his precipitated advance, 
the French had already taken possession and erected a 


236 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


fortification, which they named fort Du Quesne , in ho¬ 
nour of the marquis du Quese, the French governor of 
Canada. 

Colonel Washington accordingly proceeded on his 
march from Wills-Creek; bravely encountering all the 
obstacles and difficulties of an impervious wilderness, 
crossing mires, savannas, and rivers. His men were 
sometimes forced to ford rivers so deep, as to keep them 
up to the arm-pits; when he had proceeded as far as 
Turkyfoot, he received information that a party of 
French, commanded by M. de Jumonville, were con¬ 
cealed within a short distance of his camp; whereupon, 
he secured his waggons, and put himself in the best 
means of defence he was capable of, until he had learned 
the strength of the enemy, and the place where they 
were. 

Having received from the Indians the necessary in¬ 
formation, on the night of the 27th May, he set out with 
his men (except about forty, who were left to guard his 
ammunition, Sec.) and a party of Indians, which the half- 
king sent to his assistance, under a heavy rain, and a 
night dark as pitch, they travelled along a path scarcely 
broad enough for one man ; they were sometimes fifteen 
or twenty minutes out of the path before they could come 
to it again, and so dark, that they would often strike one 
against another; all night they continued their route, 
and in the morning about sun-rise, formed themselves 
for an engagement, marching one after another in the 
Indian manner; the enemy did not discover them un¬ 
til they were close upon them, when colonel Wash¬ 
ington’s company fired, and was supported by Mr. 
Wagers; these two companies received the whole fire 
of the French, which lasted a quarter of an hour before 
the enemy was routed out. M. de Jumonville and nine 
others were killed, one wounded and twenty-one made 
prisoners. Among the prisoners was the celebrated 
woodsman, Mons. de la Force, commissary of the French 
stores, and two other officers. Only one of the whole 
party escaped. A Canadian, named Monceau, made such 
a report of the action as to impress upon the minds of 
the French, a belief, that colonel Washington’s conduct 
was highly treacherous and dishonourable. The French 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


2 37 


account of this engagement is contained in a letter from 
M. de Contrecoeur to the marquis du Quesne, dated Fort 
du Quesne, May 23d, 1754. It states that M. de Jumon- 
ville set out with a small escort, charged with a written 
summons, in form of a letter, directed to the first En¬ 
glish officer he should meet on the lands claimed by 
the French king, summoning him to withdraw his 
troops in peace from said territory, otherwise that they 
would repel force by force, desiring the English officer 
to return his answer by M. de Jumonville, and to treat 
that officer with that distinction and respect which 
he deserved; that the deputy set out, and next morning 
found himself surrounded by a number of English and 
Indians, that the English quickly fired two vollies, 
which killed some soldiers, that M. Jumonville made 
a sign that he had a letter from his commander, where¬ 
upon the fire ceased, and the English surrounded the 
French officer, in order to hear it, that as he was read¬ 
ing the summons a second time, he was killed by a 
musket shot in the head; that had it not been for the In¬ 
dians, who rushed in between the French and English, 
the former would have been all assassinated, and that 
the Indians did not fire upon the French. This report 
was made the most of by the French, who impressed it 
upon the minds of the surrounding Indians, as a most 
shocking and base murder perpetrated by the express 
command of Colonel Washington. But the following 
extract from Colonel Washington’s Journal, of his pro¬ 
ceedings given in to Governor Dinwiddie, places the 
transaction in a quite different point of view; he states, 
viz. u We were advanced pretty near to them as we 
thought, when they discovered us; whereupon I ordered 
iny company to fire, mine was supported by Mr. Wager’s, 
and my company and his, received the whole fire of the 
French, during the greatest part of the action, which 
only lasted a quarter of an hour, before the enemy was 
routed. 

“ We killed M. de Jumonville, the commander of 
that party, as also nine others; we wounded one, and. 
made twenty-one prisoners, among whom were M. Ia 
Force, M. Droullon, and two Cadets. The Indians 
scalped the dead, and took away most part of their fire 
arms, after which wc marched on with the prisoners and 


238 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


guard, to the Indian camp, where again I held a council 
with the half-king; and there informed him that, the 
governor was desirous to see him, and was w r aiting for 
him at Winchester; he answered, that, he could not go 
just then, as his people were in too eminent danger 
from the French, whom they had fallen upon; that he 
must send messengers to all the allied nations, in order 
to invite them to take up the hatchet. He sent a young 
Delaware Indian to the Delaware Nation, and gave him 
also a French scalp to carry to them. This young man 
desired to have a part of the presents which were allotted 
for them, but that the remaining part might be kept for 
another opportunity: He said he would go to his oWn 
family, and to several others, and would wait on them 
at Mr. Gist’s, where he desired men and horses should 
be sent ready to bring them up to our camp. After this 
I marched on with the prisoners: They informed me 
that they had been sent with a summons to order me to 
depart. A plausible pretence to discover our camp, and 
to obtain the knowledge of our forces and situation ! It 
was so clear that they w r ere come to reconnoitre w T hat 
we were, that I admired at their assurance, when they 
told me they were come as an Embassy; for their in¬ 
structions mentioned that they should get what know¬ 
ledge they could of the roads, rivers, and of all the 
country as far as Potomack: And instead of coming as 
an ambassador, publicly, and in an open manner, they 
came secretly, and sought after the most hidden retreats, 
more like deserters than ambassadors; in such retreats 
they encamped, and remained hid whole days together, 
and that, no more than five miles from us: from thence 
they sent spies to reconnoitre our camp ; after this was 
done, they went back two miles, from whence they sent 
the two messengers spoken of in the instruction, to ac¬ 
quaint M. de Contrecoeur of the place we were at, and 
of our disposition, that he might send his detachments 
to inforce the summons, as soon as it should be given. 

“ Besides, an ambassador has princely attendants; 
w T hereas this was only a simple petty French officer; an 
ambassador has no need of spies, his character being 
always sacred: And seeing their intention was so good, 
why did they tarry two days, at fiye mil^s distance from 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


239 


us, without acquainting me with the summons, or, at 
least, with something that related to the embassy ? That 
alone would be sufficient to raise the greatest suspicions, 
we ought to do them the justice to say, that, as they 
wanted to hide themselves, they could not pick out better 
places than they had done. 

“The summons was so insolent, and favoured the 
gasconade so much, that if it had been brought openly 
by two men, it would have been an immediate indulg¬ 
ence, to have suffered them to return. 

“ It was the opinion of the half-king in this case, that 
their intentions were evil, and that it was a pure pre¬ 
tence ; that they never intended to come to us but as en¬ 
emies; and if we had been such fools as to let them go, 
they would never help us any more to take other 
Frenchmen. 

“ They say they called to us as soon as they discovered 
us, which is an absolute falsehood, for, I was then march¬ 
ing at the head of the company goingtowards them, and 
can positively affirm, that, when they first saw us, they 
ran to their arms, without calling; as I must have heard 
them, had they so done.” 

From the French prisoners, colonel Washington had 
intelligence, that the French forces on the Ohio consist¬ 
ed of upwards of one thousand regulars, and some hun¬ 
dreds of Indians. Upon this intelligence, and considering 
his little army which was somewhat reduced, and entirely 
insufficient to act offensive against the French and Indians 
he fell back to a place known by the appellation of the 
Great Meadows , for the sake of forage and supplies. 
Here he built a temporary stockade, merely to cover 
his stores ; it was from its fate called Fort Necessity. 
Colonel Washington was too sensible of the advantages 
of Fort du Quesne, to abandon the idea of taking it. 
Ever since he left Wills-Creek, he had been indefatiga¬ 
ble in his exertions to form the regiment, open roads, 
and gain the Indians over to the side of the English, as 
also to watch the operations of the French, and gain a 
knowledge of the forts, situation, and forces, even as far 
as the lakes. He had wrote to the governors of Penn¬ 
sylvania and Maryland, requesting their aid in the aug¬ 
mentation of his army. He remained at fort Necessity 


240 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OR 


for the arrival of some expected succour from New- 
York and Pennsylvania, unmolested, until July following, 
when his small force, even after it was joined by capt. 
M‘Kay’s regulars did not amount to four hundred effec¬ 
tives, was attacked by an army of French and Indians, 
computed to have been sixteen hundred strong, under 
the command of the sieur de Villers, the brother of M. 
de Jumonville. The chief intention of this campaign, 
the French officer acknowledged, was to revenge the as¬ 
sassination of his brother, and t6 hinder any establish¬ 
ments on the lands claimed by the king of France. 

The Virginians sustained the attack of the enemy’s 
whole force for several hours, and laid near two hundred 
of them dead in the field, when the French commander, 
discouraged by such determined resolution, proposed 
the less dangerous method of dislodging his enemy by 
a parley, which ended in a capitulation. It was stipulated 
that colonel Washington should march away with all the 
honors of war, and be allowed to carry off all his military 
stores, effects and baggage. This capitulation was vi¬ 
olated from the ungovernable disposition of the Indians, 
whom the French commander could not restrain from 
plundering the provincials on the outset of their march, 
and from making a considerable slaughter of men, cattle 
and horses. After this disaster the remains of the Vir¬ 
ginia regiment returned to Alexandria to be recruited 
and furnished with necessary supplies : during this peri¬ 
od, the French redoubled their activity and diligence on 
the Ohio, and in other places; and Virginia who de¬ 
termined to send out a larger force, in the spring follow¬ 
ing, erected the forts Cumberland and London, and 
formed aj camp at Wills-creek, in order to annoy the 
enemy on the Ohio. In these several services (particu¬ 
larly in the construction of forts) colonel Washington 
was principally employed. 

In 1755, the British government sent to this country, 
general Braddock, who was appointed to the command 
of all the troops and forces which were, or that should 
be raised in, or sent to North America; he landed at 
Williamsburg, Virginia, in February, with two veteran 
regiments from Ireland, but sent his men up the Poto- 
mack to Alexandria, there to encamp until he was joined 




GEORGE WASHINGTON*. 


241 


with the independent and provincial corps of America; 
with this army he was to penetrate through the country 
to fort Du Quesne (now fort Pitt) by the rout of Wills- 
creek to repel the French from the confines of the British 
settlements; and as no person was better acquainted with 
the frontier country than Colonel Washington, and no 
one in the colony enjoyed so well established a military 
character, he was judged to be highly serviceable to 
general Braddock, but from a royal arrangement of rank, 
by which a no officer who did not immediately derive his 
commission from the king, could command one who did,’ 5 
Colonel Washington cheerfully relinquished his regi¬ 
ment and went as an extra aid-de-camp into the family 
of general Braddock. In this capacity, at the battle of 
Monongahela, on the 9th of July, 1755, he attended that 
general, whose life was gallantly sacrificed in attempting 
to extricate his troops from the fatal ambuscade into 
which his over-weaning confidence had conducted them. 
Braddock had several horses shot under him, before he 
fell himself; and there was not an officer, whose duty 
obliged him to be on horseback that day, excepting colo¬ 
nel Washington, who was not either killed or wounded. 
This circumstance enabled him to display greater abili¬ 
ties in covering the retreat and saving the wreck of the 
army, than he could otherwise have done. As soon as 
he had secured their pasaage over the ford of the Monon- 
gahela, and found they were not pursued, he hasted to 
concert measures for their further security with colonel 
Dunbar, who had remained with the second division and 
heavy baggage at some distance in the rear. To effect 
this he travelled with two guides, all night, through an 
almost impervious wilderness, notwithstanding the fa¬ 
tigues he had undergone in the day, and although he had 
so imperfectly recovered from sickness, that he was 
obliged in the morning to be supported with cushions 
on his horse. The public accounts in Britain and Ame¬ 
rica were not parsimonious of applause for the essential 
service he had rendered on so trying an occasion. 

Not long after this time, the regulation of rank, which 
had been so injurious to the colonial officers, was chang¬ 
ed to their satisfaction, in consequence of the discontent 
®f the officers, and the remonstrance of colonel Wash- 
Vol. ii. Y 


242 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


ington. The supreme power of Virginia, impressed 
with a due sense of his merits, gave him, in a new and 
extensive commission, the command of all the troops 
raised and to be raised in that colony. 

It would not comport with the intended brevity of this 
sketch, to mention in detail the plans he suggested or 
the system he pursued for defending the frontiers, until 
the year 1758, when he commanded the van brigade of 
general Forbe’s army in the capture of Fort DuQuesne. 
A similar reason will preclude the recital of the personal 
hazards and achievements which happened in the course 
of his service. The tranquillity on the frontiers of the 
middle colonies having been restored by the success of 
this campaign, and the health of colonel Washington 
having become extremely debilitated by an inveterate 
pulmonary complaint, in 1759 he resigned his military 
appointment. Authentic documents are not wanting to 
shew the tender regret which the Virginia line express¬ 
ed at parting with their commander, and the affectionate 
regard which he entertained for them. 

Shortly alter colonel Washington’s resignation, his 
health was gradually re-established and he married Mrs. 
Custis,* an amiable young widow, said to have possessed 
a fortune of twenty thousand pounds sterling (about 
88,900 dollars) in her own right, besides her dower in 
one of the principal estates in Virginia. With this lady 
colonel Washington settled as a planter and farmer on 
his estate in Fairfax county, Virginia. 

After some years he gave up planting tobacco, and 
went altogether into the farming business. He has raised 
seven thousand bushels of wheat, and ten thousand of 
Indian corn in one year. Although he had confined his 
own cultivation to this domestic tract of about nine thou¬ 
sand acres, yet he possessed excellent lands, in large 
quantities, in several other counties. His judgment in 
the quality of soils, his command of money to avail him¬ 
self of purchases, and his occasional employment in early 
life as a surveyor, gave him opportunities of making ad¬ 
vantageous locations; many of which are much im¬ 
proved. 

* General and Mrs. Washington were both born in the 
same year. 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


243 


After he left the army, until the year 1774, he thus 
cultivated the arts of peace. He was constantly a mem¬ 
ber of assembly, a magistrate of his county and a judge 
of the court. At this period he was appointed by the 
assembly of Virginia, in conformity with the universal 
wish of the people, to be one of their four delegates at 
the first general Congress of delegates from all the pro¬ 
vinces, which met at Philadelphia on the 26th of October, 

1774, and consisted of fifty-one members. It was with 
no small reluctance that he engaged again in the active 
scenes of life; and we sincerely believe that no motives 
but such as spring from the most disinterested patriotism, 
could have prevailed upon him to relinquish the most 
refined domestic pleasure, which it was ever in his power 
to command, and the great delight he took in farming 
and the improvement of his estate. 

He was also appointed delegate to the Congress which 
assembled in 1775, in which it was at length determined, 
after every step towards an accommodation had failed, 
and every petition from America had been rejected, to 
repel by force the invasion from Great-Britain, the eyes 
of the whole continent were immediately turned upon 
Mr. Washington. With one common voice he was called 
forth to the defence of his country; and it is, perhaps, 
his peculiar glory, that there was not a single inhabitant 
of these states, except himself, who did not approve the 
choice, and place the firmest confidence in his integrity 
and abilities. 

He arrived at Cambridge in New-England, in July, 

1775, and there took the supreme command of the army 
of the United Colonics. Previous to this period, hos¬ 
tilities had actually commenced. On the 19th of April, 
1775, blood was first shed at the battle of Concord ; and 
on the 17th of June following, the memorable battle of 
Breed’s-hill, commonly called Bunker’s-hill was fought. 

General Washington was received at the camp with 
that heart felt exultation, which superior merit alone can 
inspire, after having, in his progress through the several 
states, received every mark of affection and esteem, 
which they conceived were due to the man, whom the 
whole continent looked up to for safety and freedom- 


244 


BIOGRAFHJC AL MEMOIRS OF 


The following address was presented to him on his 
accepting the supreme command of the army, by the 
provincial Congress of New-York, viz. 

ADDRESS, 

Presented to his excellency General Washington, by the 
provincial Congress of New-York. 

May it please your excellency . 

At a time when the most loyal of his majesty’s sub¬ 
jects, from a regard to the laws and constitution, by 
which he sits on the throne, feel themselves reduced to 
the unhappy necessity of taking up arms, to defend their 
dearest rights and privileges—-while we deplore the ca¬ 
lamities of this divided empire, we rejoice in the ap¬ 
pointment of a gentleman, from whose abilities and virtue 
we are taught to expect both security and peace. 

Confiding in you, sir, and in the worthy generals irn,- 
mediately under your command, we have the most flat¬ 
tering hopes of success in the glorious struggle for 
American liberty, and the fullest assurances, that, when¬ 
ever this important contest shall be decided, by that 
fondest wish of each American soul, an accommodation 
with our mother country, you will cheerfully resign the 
important deposit committed into your hands, and rca§- 
sume the character of our worthiest citizen. 

By order , 

P. V. B. Livingstone, president. 

New -York, June 26th , 1775. 


GENERAL WASHINGTON’S ANSWER. 
GENTLEMEN, 

At the same time that with you I deplore the unhappy 
necessity of such an appointment as that with which I 
am honoured, cannot but feel sentiments of the highest 
gratitude for this affecting instance of distinction and 
regard. 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


24:» 


May your warmest wishes be realized in the success 
of America, at this important and interesting period; 
and be assured that every exertion of my worthy col¬ 
leagues and myself, will be equally extended to the re¬ 
establishment of peace and harmony between the mo¬ 
ther country and these colonics ; as to the fatal but ne¬ 
cessary operations of war, when we assumed the sol¬ 
dier, we did not lay aside the citizen ; and we shall most 
sincerely rejoice with you in that happy hour, when the 
establishment of American liberty, on the most firm and 
solid foundations, shall enable us to return to our private 
stations, in the bosom of a free, peaceful, and happy 
country. G. Washington. 

Ilis conduct as a general and commander in chief is 
well known. He underwent many hardships, dangers, 
and difficulties, and conducted his military operations 
with much skill and ability. 

It would not comport with the intended brevity of the 
pr esent memoirs, for us to particularize all his transac¬ 
tions in the course of the revolutionary war, the impres¬ 
sion which they made is yet fresh in the mind of every 
citizen. 

But it is hoped, posterity will be taught in what man¬ 
ner he transformed an undisciplined body of peasantry 
into a regular army of soldiers. Commentaries on his 
campaigns would undoubtedly be highly interesting and 
instructive to future generations. The conduct of his 
first campaign, in March, 1776, in compelling the Bri¬ 
tish troops to abandon Boston, by a bloodless victory, will 
merit a minute narration. But a volume would scarcely 
contain the mortifications he experienced, and the ha¬ 
zards to which he was exposed in the years 1776 and 
1777, in contending against the prowess of Britain, with 
an inadequate force. Her armies were far superior to his 
in number, well organized and disciplined, inured to 
a camp life, commanded by officers well experienced in 
military tactics, and aided by powerful fleets, while his 
was composed of raw and undisciplined peasants, “ just 
dragged from the tender scenes of domestic life—unac¬ 
customed to the din of arms—totally unacquainted with 
every kind of military skill,”—unused to the subordina- 

Y 2 


246 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


tion so essentially requisite in an army, and often in want 
of arms, ammunition, clothes, and even food, often ex¬ 
posed to the inclemency of the weather, in the most ri¬ 
gorous seasons, without tents or even a blanket, and dis¬ 
couraged by the want of regular pay. These circum¬ 
stances fully account for the unsuccessful issue of his 
first campaigns. 

The battle of Long-Island was fought in August, 
1776 ; his army were driven from their post by the Bri¬ 
tish ; above two thousand Americans fell on the field, 
and about half that number were taken prisoners. Fort 
Washington, on York-Island, surrendered soon after, 
with two thousand prisoners: desertion and sickness 
added to his misfortunes. His army, at the time Lord 
Howe landed on Long-Island, amounted to twenty-five 
thousand men, was now reduced to about one eighth of 
the number. 

The approach of winter happily checked the progress 
of the enemy. General Washington’s perseverance and 
intrepidity improved this circumstance into important 
advantages. At Trenton, on the morning of the 26th of 
December, he surprised a body of the enemy’s troops, 
who, finding themselves surrounded, without farther re¬ 
sistance, agreed to lay down their arms.—Twenty-five 
officers and nearly one thousand soldiers were made pri¬ 
soners; while the American army had only four or five 
men wounded. 

On the third of January following, at Princeton, he 
made another successful attempt; there he took three 
hundred prisoners. These enterprises cheered the 
drooping spirits of his men, and again added reputation 
to the American arms. He afterwards retired to Morris¬ 
town, and remained during the winter, with an inferior 
force, but with superior skill, checking the enemy from 
any farther encroachments in that part of the country. 
We shall not enter into a minute description of the va¬ 
rious battles and skirmishes in which he was personally 
engaged during the campaign of 1777. At the battle of 
Brandywine, he made a gallant resistance, but was at last 
forced to quit his ground with the loss of about twelve 
hundred men killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. At 
Germantown he was repulsed with the loss of six hun- 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


247 


dred killed or wounded, and about four hundred pri¬ 
soners. He afterwards retired to winter quarters at Val¬ 
ley-Forge. His army was at this time in a most misera¬ 
ble condition, marching without stockings or shoes over 
the frozen ground, their feet were so gashed, that their 
steps were marked with blood : Some hundreds of them 
were without blankets ; and in this condition they were 
in the middle of winter, to sit down in a forest, and build 
huts for shelter. The destitute situation of the Ameri¬ 
can army at all times, was certainly a means of procrasti¬ 
nating the war; oftentimes it was upon the eve of disso¬ 
lution, even mutinies have been the consequence, while 
want of success prevented many of the soldiers from 
continuing longer than the period of their short enlist¬ 
ments, and caused frequent desertion. Indeed, nothing 
but the good destiny and consummate prudence of the 
commander in chief prevented the want of success from 
producing want of confidence on the part of the public ; 
for want of success is apt to lead to the adoption of perni¬ 
cious counsels, through the levity of the people, or the am¬ 
bition of their demagogues. In the three succeeding 
years, the germ of discipline unfolded ; and the re¬ 
sources of America having been called into co-operation 
' with the land and naval armies of France, produced the 
glorious conclusion of the campaign in 1781. On the 
nineteenth of October, that year, the army under com¬ 
mand of general Washington forced that of the enemy, 
then under the command of lord Cornwallis, to make a 
final surrender; his land forces were made prisoners of 
war to Congress; and the naval forces were given up to 
France. From this time, the gloom began to disappear 
from our political horizon, and the affairs of the union 
proceeded in a meliorating train, until a peace was most 
ably negociated by our ambassadors in Europe, in 1783, 
by which thirteen of the American colonies were estab¬ 
lished as sovereign and independent states. 

General Washington having never been in Europe, he 
could not possibly have seen much military service 
when the armies of Britain were sent to subdue Ame¬ 
rica; yet still, for a variety of reasons, he was by much 
the most proper man on this continent, and probably any 
where else, to be placed at the head of an American 


243 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS QF 


army. The very high estimation he stood in for integrity 
and honour, his engaging in the cause of his country 
from sentiment and a conviction of her wrongs, his mo¬ 
deration in politics, his extensive property, and his ap¬ 
proved abilities as a commander, were motives which 
necessarily obliged the choice of America to fall upon 
him. 

That nature had given him extraordinary military 
talents, will hardly be controverted by his most bitter 
enemies; and having been early actuated with a warm 
passion to serve his country in the military line, he had 
greatly improved them by unwearied industry, and a 
close application to the best writers upon tactics, and 
by a more than common method and exactness; and, in 
reality, when it comes to be considered, that at first he 
only headed a body of men entirely unacquainted with 
military discipline or operations, somewhat ungovern¬ 
able in temper, and who at best could only be stiled an 
alert and good militia, acting under very short enlist¬ 
ments, unclothed, unaccoutred, and at all times very ill 
supplied with ammunition and artillery ; and that with 
such an army he withstood the ravages and progress of 
nearly forty thousand veteran troops, plentifully provid¬ 
ed with every necessary article, commanded by the 
bravest officers in Europe ; and supported by a very 
powerful navy, which effectually prevented all move¬ 
ments by water; when, w r e say, all this conies to be im¬ 
partially considered, we think we may venture to pro¬ 
nounce, that General Washington will be regarded by 
mankind as one of the greatest military ornaments of the 
present age, and his name will command the veneration 
of the latest posterity. 

No person, but those who had an opportunity of view¬ 
ing the continental army, can form any adequate idea of 
its imperfect state when General Washington first as¬ 
sumed the command, nor was it without the most un¬ 
wearied application and perseverance, which few men 
but him, could have undergone, that he was able to 
establish that discipline which ultimately aided his suc¬ 
cess. From the period he first assumed the command, 
until the final dissolution of the army, his care and 
anxiety for them continued. The army he considered as 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


249 


his family; and after the embarassments of the clay, after 
the toil and fatigues of a battle, we find him stealing a 
portion of time allotted for rest, devising means the 
most salutary, for their amelioration, at all times char¬ 
acterized with that economy and frugality which the 
national resources required. 

The following extracts from his official letters to Con¬ 
gress on this subject, are worthy of perusal: they do 
ample justice to his feelings, and must make a lasting 
impression in the hearts of his fellow soldiers, viz. 

Extract of a letter from General Washington to the 

honourable Congress , dated Cambridge September 21, 
1775 . 

“ IT gives me great pain to be obliged to solicit the 
attention of the honourable Congress to the state of this 
army, in terms which imply the slightest apprehension 
of being neglected. But my situation is inexpressibly 
distressing, to see the winter fast approaching upon a 
naked army ; the time of their service within a few weeks 
of expiring ; and no provision yet made for such impor¬ 
tant events. Added to these the military chest is totally 
exhausted: the pay-master has not a single dollar in 
hand: the commissary-general assures me he has strain¬ 
ed his credit, for the subsistence of the army, to the ut¬ 
most. The quart*er-master-general is precisely in the 
same situation ; and the greatest part of the troops are 
in a state not far from mutiny, upon the deduction from 
their stated allowance. I know not to whom I am to im¬ 
pute this failure : but I am of opinion, if the evil is not 
immediately remedied, and more punctually observed in 
future, the army must absolutely break up. 1 hoped I 
had so fully expressed myself on this subject, (both by 
letter, and to those members of the congress who hon¬ 
oured the camp with a visit) that no disappointment could 
possibly happen. I therefore hourly expected advice 
from the pay-master that he had received a fresh supply, 
in addition to the hundred and seventy-two thousand dol¬ 
lars delivered him in August: and thought myself war- 
rented to assure the public creditors that in a few days 
they should be satisfied. But the delay has brought 


25 0 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


•matters to such a crisis, as admits of no further uncertain 
expectation. I have therefore sent off this express, with 
orders to make all possible dispatch. It is my most ear¬ 
nest request that he may be returned with all possible 
expedition unless the honourable Congress have already 
forwarded what is soindispensibly necessary.” 

I have the honour to be, See. 

G. W. 

LETTER FROM GENERAL WASHINGTON, TO THE 
PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. 

New-York, July 25, 1776. 

Sir, 

“ DISAGREEABLE as it is to me, and unpleasing 
as it may be to ^Congress, to multiply officers, I find my¬ 
self under the unavoidable necessity of asking an increase 
of my aides-de-camp. The augmentation of my command ; 
the increase of my correspondence ; the orders to give; 
the instructions to draw; cut out more business than I 
am able to execute in time with propriety. The business 
of so many different departments centering with me, 
and by me to be handed on to Congress for their infor¬ 
mation; added to the intercourse I am obliged to keep 
up with the adjacent States ; and incidental occurrences; 
all of which require confidential and not hack writers to 
execute; renders it impossible, in the present state of 
things, for my family to discharge the several duties ex¬ 
pected of me, with that precision and dispatch that I 
could wish. What will it be then when we come into a 
more active scene, and I am called from twenty differ- 
ent places perhaps at the same instant ? 

a Congress will do me the justice to believe (I hope) 
that it is not my inclination or wish to run the continent 
to any unnecessary expense ; and those who better know 
me will not suspect that shew and parade can have any 
influence on my mind in this instance. A conviction of 
the necessity of it, for the regular discharge of the trust 
reposed in me, is the governing motive for the applica¬ 
tion ; and, as such, is submitted to Congress by, 

Sir. Your most obedient, 8cc. 

G, W-” 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


251 


EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM GENERAL WASHING¬ 
TON TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. 

New-York, September 2, 1776. 

u Sir, 

“ As my intelligence of late has been rather un¬ 
favourable, and would be received with anxiety and 
concern ; peculiarly happy should I esteem myself, were 
it in my power at this time, to transmit such information 
to Congress as would be more pleasing and agreeable 
to their wishes: but, unfortunately for me ; unfortunate¬ 
ly for them, it is not. 

u Our situation is truly distressing. The check our 
detachment sustained on the twenty-seventh ultimo, has 
dispirited too great a proportion of our troops, and filled 
their minds with apprehension and despair. The militia, 
instead of calling forth their utmost efforts to brave and 
manly opposition, in order to repair our losses, are dis¬ 
mayed, untractable, and impatient to return. Great num¬ 
bers of them have gone off; in some instances, almost 
by whole regiments, by half ones, and by companies at a 
time. This circumstance, of itself, independent of others, 
when fronted by a well-appointed enemy, superior in 
number to our whole collected force, would be suffici¬ 
ently disagreeable : but, when their example has infect¬ 
ed another part of the army; when their want of disci¬ 
pline, and refusal of almost every kind of restraint and 
government, have produced a like conduct but too com¬ 
mon to the whole, and an entire disregard of that order 
and subordination necessary to the well-doing of an ar¬ 
my, and which had been inculcated before, as well as the 
nature of our military establishment would admit of; our 
condition is still more alarming: and with the deepest 
concern I am obliged to confess my want of confidence 
in the generality of the troops. 

“ All these circumstances fully confirm the opinion I 
ever entertained, and which I more than once in my let¬ 
ters took the liberty of mentioning to Congress, that no 
dependence could be put in a militia, or other troops 
than those enlisted and embodied for a longer period 
than our regulations heretofore have prescribed. I am 
persuaded, and as fully convinced as I am of any one 


252 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


fact that has happened, that our liberties must of neces- 
sity be greatly hazarded, if not entirely lost, if their de¬ 
fence is left to any but a permanent standing army; I 
mean, one to exist during the war. Nor would the ex¬ 
pense incident to the support of such a body of troops 
as would be competent to almost every exigency, far ex¬ 
ceed that which is daily incurred by calling in succour, 
and new enlistments, which, when effected, are not at¬ 
tended with any good consequence. Men who have been 
free, and subject to no control, cannot be reduced to or¬ 
der in an instant: and the privileges and exemptions 
they claim, and will have, influence the conduct of 
others; and the aid derived from them is nearly counter¬ 
balanced by the disorder, irregularity, and confusion 
they occasion. 

“ I cannot find that the bounty of ten dollars is likely 
to produce the desired effect. When men can get dou¬ 
ble that sum to engage for a month or two in the militia, 
and that militia frequently called out, is is hardly to be 
expected. The addition of land might have a considera¬ 
ble influence on a permanent enlistment. 1 ’* 


LETTER FROM GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE PRE¬ 
SIDENT OF CONGRESS. 

Col. Morris’s , on the Heights of Haerle?n,Sejit. 24, 1776. 
u Sir, 

“ From the hours allotted to sleep, I w ill borrow* a 
few moments to convey my thoughts on sundry import¬ 
ant matters to Congress. I shall offer them w r ith the sin¬ 
cerity which ought to characterise a man of candour, 
and with the freedom which may be used in giving use- 
^•vful information, without incurring the imputation of pre¬ 
sumption. 

“ We are now, as it were, upon the eve of another 
dissolution of our army. The remembrance of the dif¬ 
ficulties which happened upon the occasion last year, 
trhe consequences which might have followed the change, 
if proper advantages had been taken by the enemy, add¬ 
ed to a knowledge of the present temper and situation of 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


253 


the troops, reflect but a gloomy prospect upon the ap¬ 
pearances of things now, and satisfy me beyond the pos¬ 
sibility of doubt, that, unless some speedy and effectual 
measures are adopted by Congress, our cause will be lost. 

“ It is in vain to expect that any, or more than a trif¬ 
ling part of this army will again engage in the service on 
the encouragement offered by Congress, when men find 
that their townsmen and companions are receiving twen¬ 
ty, thirty, and more dollars, for a few months* service, 
(which is truly the case) it cannot be expected, without 
using compulsion; and to force them into the service 
would answer no valuable purpose. When men are irri¬ 
tated, and the passions inflamed, they fly hastily and 
cheerfully to arms; but after the first emotions are over 
* * *, a soldier, reasoned with upon the goodness of the 
cause he is engaged in, and the inestimable rights he is 
contending for, hears you with patience, and acknow¬ 
ledges the truth of your observations, but adds, that it is 
of no more importance to him than others. The officer 
makes you the same reply, with this further remark, that 
his pay will not support him, and he cannot ruin himself 
and family to serve his country, when every member of 
the community is equally interested and benefited by his 
labours. 

“ It becomes evidently clear then, that as this contest 
is not likely to be the work of a day,—as the war must 
be carried on systematically,—and to do it you must have 
good officers,—there are, in my judgment, no other pos¬ 
sible means to obtain them but by establishing your army 
upon a permanent footing, and giving your officers good 
pay. This will induce gentlemen and men of character 
to engage: and, till the bulk of your officers are com¬ 
posed of such persons as are actuated by principles of 
honour and a spirit of enterprise, you have little to ex¬ 
pect from them. They ought to have such allowances 
as will enable them to live like and support the charac¬ 
ters of gentlemen. Besides, something is due to the 
man who puts his life in [ jour ] hands, hazards his health, 
and forsakes the sweets of domestic enjoyment. Why 
a captain in the continental service should receive no 
more than five shillings currency per day for performing 
the same duties that an officer of the same rank in the 

V r OL. II. Z 


254 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


British service receives ten shillings sterling for, I never 
could conceive, especially when the latter is provided 
with every necessary he requires upon the best terms, 
and the former can scarce procure them at any rate. 
There is nothing that gives a man consequence and ren¬ 
ders him fit for command, like a support that renders 
him independent of every body but the state he serves. 

« With respect to the men, nothing but a good bounty 
can obtain them upon a permanent establishment; and 
for no shorter time than the continuance of the war, 
ought they to be engaged; as facts incontestibly prove 
that the difficulty and cost of enlistments increase with 
time. When the army was first raised at Cambridge, I 
am persuaded that the men might have been got, without 
a bounty, for the war. After this they began to see that 
the contest was not likely to end so speedily as was im¬ 
agined, and to feel their consequence by remarking, 
that, to get in the militia in the course of the last year, 
many towns were induced to give them a bounty. 

“ Foreseeing the evils resulting from this, and the 
destructive consequences which unavoidably would fol¬ 
low short enlistments, I took the liberty in a long letter 
(date not now recollected, as my letter book is not here) 
to recommend the enlistments for and during the war, 
assigning such reasons for it as experience has since con¬ 
vinced me were well founded. At that time, twenty 
dollars would, I am persuaded, have engaged the men 
for this term. But it will not do to look back : and if 
the present opportunity is slipped, I am persuaded that 
twelve months more will increase our difficulties four¬ 
fold. I shall therefore take the freedom of giving it as 
my opinion, that a good bounty be immediately offered, 
aided by the proffer of at least a hundred or a hundred 
and fifty acres of land, and a suit of clothes and blanket 
to each non-commissioned officer and soldier; as I have 
good authority for saying, that, however high the men’s 
pay may appear, it is barely sufficient, in the present 
scarcity and dearness of all kinds of goods, to keep them 
in clothes, much less afford support to their families. 

“ If this encouragement then is given to the men, and 
such pay allowed the officers as will induce gentlemen 
of character and liberal sentiments to engage,- and proper 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 255 

care and precaution used in the nomination (having more 
regard to the characters of persons than the number of 
men they can enlist,) we should in a little time have an 
army able to cope with any that can be opposed to it, as 
there are excellent materials to form one out of. But 
while the only merit an officer possesses is his ability to 
raise men, while those men consider and treat him as an 
equal, and (in the character of an officer) regard him no 
more than a broomstick, being mixed together as one 
common herd, no order nor discipline can prevail; nor 
will the officer ever meet with that respect which is 
essentially necessary to due subordination. 

“ To place any dependence upon militia, is assuredly 
resting upon a broken staff,—men just dragged from the 
tender scenes of domestic life,—unaccustomed to the 
din of arms,—totally unacquainted with every kind of 
military skill; which being followed by a want of confi¬ 
dence in themselves, when opposed to troops regularly 
trained, disciplined, and appointed, superior in know¬ 
ledge, and superior inarms, makes them timid and ready 
to fly from their own shadows. Besides, the sudden 
change in their manner of living (particularly in the 
lodging) brings on sickness in many, impatience in all, 
and such an unconquerable desire of returning to their 
respective homes, that it not only produces shameful 
and scandalous desertions among themselves, but infuses 
the like spirit into others. 

“ Again ; men accustomed to unbounded freedom and 
no controul, cannot brook the restraint which is indis¬ 
pensably necessary to the good order and government of 
an army; without which, licentiousness and every kind 
of disorder triumphantly reign. To bring men to a 
proper degree of subordination is not the work of a day, 
a month, or even a year; and unhappily for us and the 
cause we are engaged in, the little discipline I have been 
labouring to establish in the army under my immediate 
command, is in a manner done away, by having such a 
mixture of troops as have been called together within 
these few months. 

“ Relaxed and unfit as our rules and regulations of 
war are for the government of an army, the militia (those 
properly so called J for of these we have two sorts, the 


256 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


six months men, and those sent in as a temporary aid) 
do not think themselves subject to them, and therefore 
take liberties which the soldier is punished for. This 
Creates jealousy; jealousy begets dissatisfactions; and 
these by degrees ripen into mutiny, keeping the whole 
army in a confused and disordered state; rendering the 
time of those who wish to see regularity and good order 
prevail, more unhappy than words can describe. Besides 
this, such repeated changes take place, that all arrange¬ 
ment is set at nought, and the constant fluctuation of 
things deranges every plan as fast as adopted. 

“ These, sir, Congress may be assured, are but a small 
part of the inconveniences which might be enumerated, 
and attributed to militia: but there is owe that merits 
particular attention, and that is the expense. Certain I 
am, that it would be cheaper to keep fifty or an hundred 
thousand in constant pay, than to depend upon half the 
number, and supply the other half occasionally by militia. 
The time the latter are in pay before and after they are 
in camp, assembling and marching; the waste of ammu¬ 
nition, the consumption of stores, which, in spite of every 
resolution or requisition of Congress, they must be fur¬ 
nished with, or sent home ; added to other incidental 
expenses consequent upon their coming and conduct in 
camp, surpasses all idea, and destroys every kind of reg¬ 
ularity and economy which you could establish among 
fixed and settled troops, and will, in my opinion, prove 
(if the scheme is adhered to) the ruin of our cause. 

“ The jealousies of a standing army, and the evils to 
be apprehended from one, are remote, and, in my judg¬ 
ment, situated and circumstanced as we are, not at all to 
be dreaded : but the consequence of wanting one, accord¬ 
ing to my ideas formed from the present view of things, 
is certain and inevitable ruin. For, if I was called upon 
to declare upon oath, whether the militia have been most 
serviceable or hurtful upon the whole, I should subscribe 
to the latter. I do not mean by this, however, to arraign 
the conduct of Congress: in so doing, I should equally 
condemn my own measures, if I did not my judgment: 
but experience, which is the best criterion to work by, 
so fully, clearly and decisively reprobates the practice 
of trusting to militia, that no man who regards order, 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


257 


regularity and economy, or who has any regard to his 
own honour, character, or peace of mind, will risk them 
upon this issue. 

“ An army formed of good officers, moves like clock¬ 
work : but there is no situation on earth less enviable 
nor more distressing than that person’s who is at the 
head of troops who are regardless of order and discipline, 
and who are unprovided with almost every necessary. 
In a word, the difficulties which have forever surround¬ 
ed me since I have been in the service, and kept my 
mind constantly upon the stretch,—the wounds which 
my feelings (as an officer) have received by a thousand 
things which have happened contrary to my expectation 
and wishes, * * *—added to a consciousness of my ina¬ 
bility to govern an army composed of such discordant 
parts, and under such a variety of intricate and perplex¬ 
ing circumstances,—induce not only a belief, but a 
thorough conviction in my mind, that it will be impos¬ 
sible (unless there is a thorough change in our military 
system) for me to conduct matters in such a manner as 
to give satisfaction to the public, which is all the recom¬ 
pense I aim at, or ever wished for. 

Before I conclude, I must apologize for the liberties 
taken in this letter, and for the blots and scratchings 
therein, not having time to give it more correctly. With 
truth I can add, that, with every sentiment of respect 
and esteem, I am yours and the Congress 

most obedient, &c. 

G. W.” 


LETTER FROM GENERAL WASHINGTON, TO THE COM¬ 
MITTEE OF CONGRESS, ON A VISIT TO THE CAMP. 

Camji at the Clove , July 19, 1777. 

Cientlemen, 

“ The little notice I had of your coming to the 
army, and the shortness of your stay in camp, will more 
than probably occasion the omission of many matters, 
which of right ought to be laid before you; and the 
interruption which my thoughts constantly meet by a 

Z 2 




258 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


variety of occurrences, must apologize for the rude and 
indigested manner in which they are offered. 

a The completion of the continental regiments is a 
matter of such infinite importance, that I think no means 
should be left unessayed to accomplish it. Draughting 
where the powers of government are adequate, would be 
the speediest and most effectual: but if it should be 
thought unadviseable to attempt this mode,—next to it 
I would recommend that the business of recruiting should 
be taken entirely out of the hands of the officers of the 
army, and that each state should appoint some person of 
known activity (one for instance, who has been a good 
under-sheriff) in each county or township, not only to 
recruit, but to apprehend deserters : these persons to be 
liberally rewarded for each recruit, and deserter whom 
they shall deliver, at stated periods and places, to officers 
appointed to receive, discipline, and march them to the 
army ; none of these recruiters to have the smallest pow¬ 
er to act out of their own districts, but to be absolutely 
fixed to them. 

“ A mode of this kind would, in my humble opinion, 
be less burthensome to the public than the present; 
prevent the idle habits which recruiting officers contract, 
not only injurious to themselves, but to others ; the most 
effectual means which can be devised for the recovery 
of deserters ; the surest way of keeping your regiments 
of equal strength, and of making the duty more equal in 
the detail of it: in a word, many valuable advantages 
would result from it, whilst I can suggest but one reason 
against it; and that, (fully satisfied I am) when weighed 
in the scale of interest, will not operate; I mean, the 
keeping so many officers in the camp, who might be 
spared from the duties of the field till the regiments are 
stronger than at present. The sixteen additional regi¬ 
ments labour under such disadvantages in some states, 
as to render the interposition of Congress, in some shape 
or other, indispensably necessary. 

“ With respect to food, considering we are in such an 
extensive and abundant country, no army was ever worse 
supplied than ours, with many essential articles of it. 
Our soldiers, the greatest part of last campaign and the 
whole of this, have scarcely tasted any kind of vegetables-, 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


259 


had but little salt; and vinegar which would have been 
a tolerable substitute for vegetables, they have been in 
a great measure strangers to. Neither have they been 
provided with proper drink : beer or cider seldom comes 
within the verge of the camp, and rum in much too 
small quantities. Thus, to devouring large quantities of 
animal food, untempered by vegetables or vinegar, or by 
any kind of drink but water, and eating indifferent bread, 
(but for this, a remedy is provided) are to be ascribed the 
many putrid diseases incident to the army, and the 
lamentable mortality that attended us last campaign. If 
these evils can be remedied, the expense and trouble 
ought not to be obstacles. Though some kinds of veg¬ 
etables are not to be had, others are, which, together 
with sour crout and vinegar, might easily be had, if 
proper persons acquainted with the business were em¬ 
ployed therein. 

“ Soap is another article in great demand, the conti¬ 
nental allowance is too small: and, dear as every necessary 
of life is now got, a soldier’s pay will not enable him to 
purchase ; by which means his consequent dirtiness adds 
not a little to the diseases of the army. 

“ I have no reason to accuse the clothier-general of 
inattention to his department; and therefore, as his sup¬ 
plies are incompetent to the wants of the army, I am to 
suppose his resources are unequal. Ought not each 
state then to be called upon to draw such supplies from 
the country manufactories, as can be afforded ? particu¬ 
larly of shoes, stockings, shirts, and blankets, articles in¬ 
dispensably necessary, and of which scarce too many can 
be provided: in the mean while every provision to be 
making, for clothing the troops uniformly and warm in 
the winter. It is a maxim that needs no elucidation, that 
nothing can be of more importance in an army, than the 
clothing and feeding it well. On these the health, com¬ 
fort, and spirits of the soldiers essentially depend; and 
it is a melancholy fact, that the American army are mi¬ 
serably defective in both these respects. The distress 
most of them are in for want of clothing is painful to hu¬ 
manity, dispiriting to themselves, and discouraging to 
every officer. It makes every pretension to the preser¬ 
vation of cleanliness impossible, exposes them to a va- 


260 


EJ0GRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


riety of disorders, and abates or destroys that military 
pride without which nothing can be expected from any 
army. 

“ The consequence of giving rank indiscriminately is 
much to be dreaded : great dissatisfaction has already 
arisen on account of bestowing this on officers in the ci¬ 
vil departments of the army, on the inferior staff, wag¬ 
gon-masters, kc. who, by custom, propriety, and every 
other motive, are excluded from it in all well-regulated 
armies. The too great liberality practised in this respect 
will destroy the pride of rank where it ought to exist, 
and will not only render it cheap, but contemptible. It 
is the policy of all armies to make it valued and respect¬ 
ed, as a stimulus to emulation, and an incitement to bold 
and gallant undertakings : it must be very unadvisably, 
therefore, in our infant state of war, to adopt novel cus¬ 
toms to bring it into discredit; which must and will be 
the consequence of making it too common, besides the 
disgust it creates in others. 

“ An auditor of accounts, to be constantly with the ar¬ 
my, is absolutely requisite. It is absolutely impossible for 
me, crowded as I am with other business, to examine 
and adjust the numerous complex accounts of the army 
with that correctness the public have a right to expect, 
before warrants pass for payment; and, without doing 
it, great impositions may follow. The provision for mak¬ 
ing regimental pay-masters regulate all regimental ac¬ 
counts, is altogether incompetent to the end proposed 
from it: for these men being appointed generally agree¬ 
able to the recommendation of the field officers of the 
regiments they belong to ; associating constantly with 
the officers of their corps, and in a great measure under 
their control; cannot be considered as sufficiently unin¬ 
fluenced ; nor are auditors at a distance from the army 
of much use, as it would require a delay not admissible, 
to send accounts to them to audit before they were pass¬ 
ed and paid in consequence of warrants from the com¬ 
mander in chief of the army. 

u A good geographer, to survey the roads and take 
sketches of the country where the army is to act, would 
be extremely useful, and might be attended with ex¬ 
ceeding valuable consequences. He might with propri- 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


261 


ety have the chief direction of the guides, and must have 
a head, to procure, govern, and pay them. If such a per¬ 
son should be approved of, I would beg leave to recom¬ 
mend Mr. Robert Erskine, who is thoroughly skilled in 
thib business, has already assisted us in making maps of 
the country, and has (as I am informed) uniformly sup¬ 
ported the character of a fast friend to America. 

“ A small travelling press, to follow head-quarters, 
would be productive of many eminent advantages. It 
would enable us to give speedy and exact information of 
any military transactions that take place, with proper 
comments upon them, and thereby frustrate the pernici¬ 
ous tendency of falsehood and misrepresentation, which, 
in my opinion, of whatever complexion they may be, 
are, in the main, detrimental to our cause. If the people 
had a channel of intelligence, that, from its usual authen¬ 
ticity, they could look up to with confidence, they might 
often be preserved from that despondency which they 
are apt to fall into, from the exaggerated pictures our 
enemies and their emissaries among us commonly draw 
of any misfortunes we meet with—and from that diffi¬ 
dence of truths favourable to us, which they must natu¬ 
rally feel from the frequent deception they are exposed 
to, by the extravagant colourings our friends often give 
to our successes. It would also be very useful to dis¬ 
patch business in camp, being the most expeditious 
means of taking copies of orders or other matters that 
require to be dispersed, and would save a good deal in 
returns and other papers we are often obliged to get 
printed in Philadelphia. An ingenious man to accompa¬ 
ny this press, and be employed wholly in writing for it, 
might render it singularly beneficial. 

u I am exceedingly embarrassed how to dispose of 
the French officers in general, but more especially the 
artillery officers, who are come out under the sanction 
of a compact. I can think of no other way than that of 
forming a separate corps of them, and draughting men 
from the whole line to compose that corps : but even 
this will be attended with many disagreeable effects; 
among others, this is not the least, that officers will think 
themselves much injured to have the men they have 
had the trouble of raising taken from them, and given 


262 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


to others. There is something in this which is discou¬ 
raging, and breaks the spirit of a good officer, who prides 
himself in having a full and complete corps. 

“ A doubt has arisen, whether a person who belongs 
to any of the United States of America, and who owed 
allegiance to any of the said states—that went to the ene¬ 
my some time past, and since that time has been lurking 
about any of the fortifications, or about any of the en¬ 
campments of the armies of the United States, plunder¬ 
ing and driving off cattle to the enemy, recruiting for 
them, or committing any other atrocious crime, or who 
is appointed an officer in the enemy’s army—can be tried 
by a general court-martial, under the resolution of Con¬ 
gress of the 21st of August, 1776, and punished as a spy. 

“ I have the honour to be, kc. 

G. W.” 


Correspondence between General Washington and 
General Gage , respecting the bad treatment of pri¬ 
soners . 

LETTER FROM HIS EXCELLRNCY GENERAL WASHING¬ 
TON, TO GENERAL GAGE. 

Head-Quarters , Cambridge , August 1 1, 1775. 

a Sir, 

“ I understand that the officers, engaged in the cause 
of liberty and their country, who, by the fortune of war, 
have fallen into your hands, have been thrown indiscri¬ 
minately into a common gaol, appropriated for felons— 
that no consideration has been made for those of the 
most respectable rank, when languishing with wounds 
and sickness—that some of them have been amputated 
in this unworthy situation. 

“ Let your opinion, sir, of the principle which actu¬ 
ates them be what it may, they suppose they act from the 
noblest of all principles, a love of freedom and their 
country. But political opinions, I conceive, are foreign 
to this point. The obligations arising from the right cf 
humanity and claims of rank, are universally binding 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


263 


and extensive, except in case of retaliation. These, I 
should have hoped, would have dictated a more tender 
treatment of those individuals whom chance or war had 
put in your power Nor can I forbear suggesting its fa¬ 
tal tendency to widen that unhappy breach, which you, 
and those ministers under whom you act, have repeated¬ 
ly declared you wish to see for ever closed. 

“ My duty now makes it necessary to apprise you, that 
for the future I shall regulate my conduct towards those 
gentlemen of your army who are, or may be in our pos¬ 
session, exactly by the rule you may observe towards 
those of ours who may be in your custody. 

w If severity and hardship mark the line of your con¬ 
duct, (painful as it may be to me) your prisoners will 
feel its effects; but if kindness and humanity are shown 
to ours, I shall, with pleasure, consider those in our 
hands only as unfortunate, and they shall receive from 
me that treatment to which the unfortunate are ever en¬ 
titled. 

“ I beg to be favoured with an answer as soon as pos¬ 
sible, and am, sir, 

Your very humble servant, 

G. Washington.” 

His Excellency General Gage. 


ANSWER : 

Boston , August 13, 1775. 

“ Sir, 

“ To the glory of civilized nations, humanity and war 
have been compatible; and compassion to the subdued 
is become almost a general system. 

“ Britons, ever pre-eminent in mercy, have outgone 
common examples, and overlooked the criminal in the 
captive. Upon these principles your prisoners, whose 
lives, by the laws of the land, are destined to the cord, 
have hitherto been treated with care and kindness, and 
more comfortably lodged, than the king’s troops, in the 
hospitals; indiscriminately, it is true, for I acknowledge 
no rank that is not derived from the king. 


264 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


“ My intelligence from your army would justify severe 
recrimination. I understand there are some of the king’s 
faithful subjects, taken some time since by the rebels, 
labouring like Negro slaves, to gain their daily subsist¬ 
ence, or reduced to the wretched alternative, to perish 
by famine, or take arms against their king and country. 
Those, who have made the treatment of the prisoners in 
my hands, or of your other friends in Boston, a pretence 
for such measures, found barbarity upon falsehood. 

“ I would willingly hope, sir, that the sentiments of 
liberality which I have always believed you to possess, 
will be exerted to correct their misdoings. Be temperate 
in political disquisitions; give free operation to truth, 
and punish those who deceive and misrepresent j and 
not only the effects, but the causes of this unhappy con¬ 
flict will soon be removed. 

“ Should those, under whose usurped authority you 
act, controul such a disposition, and dare to call severity 
retaliation, to God, who knows all hearts, be the appeal 
for the dreadful consequences. I trust, that British 
soldiers, asserting the rights of the state, the laws of the 
land, the being of the constitution, will meet all events 
with becoming fortitude. They will court victory with 
the spirit their cause inspires, and from the same motive, 
will find the patience of martyrs under misfortunes. 

“ Till I read your insinuations in regard to ministers, 
I conceived that I had acted under the king ; whose 
wishes, it is true, as well as those of his ministers, and 
of every honest man, have been to see this unhappy 
breach forever closed; but unfortunately for both coun¬ 
tries, those who have long since projected the present, 
crisis, and influence the councilsof America, have views 
very distant from accommodation. I am, sir, 

Your obedient, humble servant, 

Thomas Gage.” 


George Washington , Esq. 


GEORGE WASHINGTON’. 


265 


REPLY. 

He a d-Qua rters , Ca rn bridge , 
August 19, 1775. 

“ Sir, 

44 I addressed you on the 11th instant, in terms which 
gave the fairest scope for the exercise of that humanity 
and politeness, which were supposed to form a part of 
your character. I remonstrated with you on the unwor¬ 
thy treatment shewn to the officers and citizens of Ame¬ 
rica, whom the fortune of war, chance, or a mistaken 
confidence, had thrown into your hands. 

u Whether British or American mercy, fortitude and 
patience, are most pre-eminent,—whether our virtuous 
citizens, whom the hand of tyranny has forced into arms, 
to defend their wives, their children, and their property, 
or the mercenary instruments of lawless domination, 
avarice and revenge, best deserve the appellation of 
rebels, and the punishment of that cord, which your af¬ 
fected clemency has forborn to inflict—whether the au¬ 
thority under which I act, is usurped, or founded on the 
genuine principles of liberty, were altogether foreign to 
the subject. I purposely avoided all political disquisition; 
nor shall I now avail myself of those advantages, which 
the sacred cause of my country, of liberty and human na¬ 
ture, give me over you; much less shall I stoop to retort 
any invective. But the intelligence, you say you have 
received from our army, requires a reply. I have taken 
time, sir, to make a strict inquiry, and find that it has not 
the least foundation in truth. Not only your officers and 
soldiers liave been treated with a tenderness due to fel¬ 
low-citizens and brethren, but even those execrable parri¬ 
cides, whose counsels and aid have deluged their country 
in blood, have been protected from the fury of a justly 
enraged people. Far from compelling or permitting their 
assistance, I am embarrassed with the numbers who 
croud to our camp, animated with the purest principles 
of virtue and love of their country. You advise me to 
give free operation to truth; to punish misrepresenta¬ 
tion and falsehood. If experience stamps value upon 
counsel, yours must hafe a weight which few can claim. 
You best can tell how far the convulsion, which has 
Vol. ii. 2 A 



266 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


brought such ruin on both countries, and shaken the 
mighty empire of Britain to its foundation, may be traced 
to these malignant causes. 

“ You affect, sir, to despise all rank, not derived from 
the same source with your own. I cannot conceive one 
more honourable, than that which flows from the uncor¬ 
rupted choice of a brave and free people, the purest 
source and original fountain of all power.—Far from 
making it a plea for cruelty, a mind of true magnanimity 
and enlarged ideas, would comprehend and respect it. 

“ What may have been the ministerial views which 
have precipitated the present crisis, Lexington, Concord, 
and Charlestown, can best declare. May that God, to 
whom you then appealed, judge between America and 
you. Under his providence, those who influence the 
councils of America, and all the other inhabitants of the 
united colonies, at the hazard of their lives, are deter¬ 
mined to hand down to posterity, those just and invalu¬ 
able privileges which they received from their ancestors. 

“ I shall now, sir, close my correspondence with you, 
perhaps for ever. If your officers, our prisoners, receive 
a treatment from me, different from what I wished to 
shew them, they and you will remember the occasion ef 
it. 

“ I am, sir, 

“ Your very humble servant, 

“ G. Washington.” 

“ General Gage” 


The preceding letters will ever convey to the world, 
a sufficient testimony of the attention and care, which, at 
all times, General Washington extended to the soldiers 
under his command. The whole of his official letters 
are uniformly characterized with those tender and sym¬ 
pathetic pictures, which the appearance of real want in 
others impress on a lively and feeling mind, and which 
was the best calculated to rouse in the minds of Congress, 
a sense of the sufferings of those who were sacrificing 
their ease, and risking their lives to establish the inde¬ 
pendence of their country. Observe the extreme modesty 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


267 


which he assumes, when he requests for himself, even 
an aid-dc camp, which the multiplicity of his cares ren¬ 
dered essential,—contrast it with that freedom with 
which he delivers his opinion on other subjects which 
regard the comfort of his fellow soldiers only—and with 
the manly language in which he addresses General Gage, 
for his ill treatment to those whom the misfortune of 
war placed in his power—Then we behold the citizen— 
the General. 

To those ungrateful few, who, stimulated by malice, 
have heretofore endeavoured to sully his honour and 
military reputation, and to impress upon the public mind, 
the ungenerous idea, that he was instrumental to the 
shedding of innocent blood, and inflicting wanton cruelty 
upon the prisoners of the enemy, we recommend a per¬ 
usal of his letters to Congress upon that subject: there 
they will find him combating the idea with the language 
of reason, and censuring the inhuman practice. The 
historians of the American war have uniformly repre¬ 
sented the case of Major Andre as an example of inhu¬ 
man murder on the part of America. On this occasion, 
General Washington sacrificed his own feelings to the 
u necessities of inexorable justice.” The sentence was 
pronounced with much hesitation, and, at its execution, 
he was seen to shed tears.—Nor is it necessary for us to 
remind them of his fortitude to withstand the threats, or 
virtue to scorn the bribes of the emissaries of the British 
Cabinet; for one uniform principle of prudence and 
wisdom seems to have regulated every transaction of his 
life. 

When General Washington received the joyful in¬ 
telligence of peace, he expressed himself to the army 
who had accompanied him through the dangers, toils and 
difficulties of this glorious struggle, in the following 
address: 


ORDERS ISSUED I3Y GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE 

ARMY. 

Head-Quarters , Afiril 18, 1783. 
The Commander in Chief orders the cessation of hos¬ 
tilities between the United States of America and the 


268 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


King of Great Britain, to be publicly proclaimed to-mor¬ 
row, at twelve o’clock, at the new building ; and that the 
proclamation, which will be communicated herewith, be 
read to-morrow evening at the head of every regiment 
and corps of the army; after which the chaplains, with 
the several brigades, will render thanks to the Almighty 
God for all his mercies, particularly for his over-ruling 
the wrath of man to his own glory, and causing the rage 
of war to cease among the nations. 

“ Although the proclamation before alluded to ex¬ 
tends only to the prohibition of hostilities, and not to the 
annunciation of a general peace, yet it must afford the 
most rational and sincere satisfaction to every benevo¬ 
lent mind, as it puts a period to a long and doubtful con¬ 
test, stops the effusion of human blood, opens the pros¬ 
pect to a ir f ore splendid scene, and, like another morning 
star, promises the approach of brighter day than hath hi¬ 
therto illuminated the western hemisphere. On such a 
happy day, which is the harbinger of peace, a day which 
completes the eighth year of the war, it would be ingra¬ 
titude not to rejoice ; it would be insensibility not to par¬ 
ticipate in the general felicity. 

a The Commander in Chief, far from endeavouring 
to stifle the feelings of joy in his own bosom, offers his 
most cordial congratulations on the occasion to all the 
officers of every denomination; to all the troops of the 
United States in general; and, in particular, to those 
gallant and persevering men who had resolved to de¬ 
fend the rights of their invaded country, so long as the 
war should continue. For these are the men who ought 
to be considered as the pride and boast of the Ameri¬ 
can army; and who, crowned with well-earned laurels, 
may soon withdraw from the field of glory to the more 
tranquil walks of civil life. While the Commander in 
Chief recollects the almost infinite variety of scenes 
through which we have past, with a mixture of plea¬ 
sure, astonishment, and gratitude; while he contem¬ 
plates the prospects before us with rapture, he cannot 
help wishing that all the brave men, of whatever condi¬ 
tion they may be, who have shared the toils and dan¬ 
gers of effecting this glorious revolution; of rescuing 
millions from the hand of oppression, and of laying the 
foundation of .a great empire, might be impressed with 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


269 


a proper idea of the dignified part they have been called 
to act, under the smiles of Providence, on the stage of 
human affairs; for happy, thrice happy! shall they be 
pronounced hereafter, who have contributed any thing, 
who have performed the meanest office in erecting this 
stupendous fabkick of freedom and empire on the 
broad basis of independency; who have assisted in pro¬ 
tecting the rights of human nature, and establishing an 
asylum for the poor and oppressed of all nations and re¬ 
ligions.—The glorious task for which we at first flew to 
arms being accomplished—the liberties of our country 
being fully acknowledged and firmly secured by the 
smiles of Heaven on the purity of our cause, and the 
honest exertions of a feeble people, determined to be 
free, against a powerful nation disposed to oppress them ; 
and the character of those who have persevered through 
every extremity of hardship, suffering, and danger, be¬ 
ing immortalized by the illustrious appellation of the 
patriot army , nothing now remains but for the actors of 
this mighty scene to preserve a perfect unvarying con¬ 
sistency of character through the very last act, to close 
the drama with applause; and to retire from the mili¬ 
tary theatre with the same approbation of angels and 
men which have crowned all their former virtuous ac¬ 
tions. For this purpose, no disorder or licentiousness 
must be tolerated.—Every considerate and well-disposed 
soldier must remember it will be absolutely necessary 
to wait with patience until peace shall be declared, or 
Congress shall be enabled to take proper measures for 
the security of the public stores, Sec. As soon as these 
arrangements shall be made, the General iz confident 
there will be no delay in discharging, with every mark 
of distinction and honour, all the men enlisted for the 
war, who will then have faithfully performed their en¬ 
gagements with the public. The General has already 
interested himself in their behalf, and he thinks he need 
not repeat the assurance of his disposition to be useful 
to them on the present and every other proper occasion. 
In the mean time, he is determined that no military ne¬ 
glects or excesses shall go unpunished while he retains 
the command of the army. 

The Adjutant-General will have such working par- 

2 A 2 


270 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


ties detached, to assist in making the preparations for 
a general rejoicing, as the chief Engineer with the 
army shall call for; and the Quarter-Master-General 
will, without delay, procure such a number of discharges 
to be printed as will be sufficient for all the men enlisted 
for the war—he will please to apply to head-quarters 
for the form.—An extra ration of liquor to be issued to 
every man to-morrow, to drink, “ Perpetual Peace and 
Happiness to the United States of America.” 


The following resolutions were passed by Congress, 
on the 7th of August, 1783, viz. 

BY THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED. 

“ Resolved unanimously. Ten States being present, 

“ That an Equestrian Statue of General Washing¬ 
ton be erected at the place where the residence of Con¬ 
gress shall be established: 

“ Resolved , That the statue be of bronze, the Gene¬ 
ral to be represented in a Roman dress, holding a trun¬ 
cheon in his right hand, and his head encircled in a lau¬ 
rel wreath: the statue to be supported by a marble pe¬ 
destal, on which are to be represented, in basso relievo, 
the following principal events of the war, in which Ge¬ 
neral Washington commanded in person, viz.—The Eva¬ 
cuation of Boston—The Capture of the Hessians at 
Trenton—The Battle of Princeton—The action of 
Monmouth—and the surrender of York. On the up¬ 
per part of the front of the pedestal to be engraved 
as follows: “ The United States in Congress assembled, 
ordered this statue to be erected in the year of our Lord 
1783, in the honour of George Washington, the illus¬ 
trious commander in chief of the armies of the United 
States of America, during the war, which vindicated 
and secured their liberty, sovereignty, and independ¬ 
ence.” 

“ Resolved , That a statue conformable to the above 
plan, be executed by the best artist in Europe, under the 
superintendance of the Minister of the United States at 
the court of Versailles, and that money to defray the 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


271 


expense of the same be furnished from the Treasury of 
the United States. 

u Resolved , That the Secretary of Congress trans¬ 
mit to the Minister of the United States at the court of 
Versailles, the best resemblance of General Washing¬ 
ton that can be procured, for the purpose of having the 
above statue erected, together with the fittest description 
of the events which are to be the subject of the basso 
relievo.” 


On the 26th of August, 1783, general Washington, at 
the request of Congress, proceeded to Princeton, where 
the Congress was then sitting, and being introduced by 
two members, the President addressed him as follows, 
viz. 

u Sir, 

u Congress feel particular pleasure in seeing your 
Excellency, and in congratulating you on the success of 
a war in which you have acted so conspicuous a part: 

u It has been the singular happiness of the United 
States, that, during a war so long, so dangerous, and so 
important, Providence has been graciously pleased to 
preserve the life of a general, who has merited and pos¬ 
sessed the uninterrupted confidence and affection of his 
fellow-citizens. In other nations, many have performed 
services for which they have deserved and received the 
thanks of the public; but to you, sir, peculiar praise is 
due : your services have been essential in acquiring and 
establishing the freedom and independence of your coun¬ 
try; they deserve the grateful acknowledgments of a 
free and independent nation: those acknowledgments 
Congress have the satisfaction of expressing to your Ex¬ 
cellency. 

“ Hostilities have now ceased, but your country still 
needs your services ; she wishes to avail herself of your 
talents in forming the arrangements which will be neces¬ 
sary for her in the time of peace; for this reason, your 
attendance at Congress has been requested. A Commit¬ 
tee is appointed to confer with your Excellency, and to 
receive your assistance in preparing and adjusting plans 
relative to those important objects.” 


272 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS QF 


To which his Excellency made the following 

REPLY. 

« Mr. President, 

« I am too sensible of the honourable reception I 
have now experienced, not to be penetrated with the 
deepest feelings of gratitude. 

“ Notwithstanding Congress appear to estimate the 
value of my life beyond any services I have been able to 
render the United States, yet I must be permitted to con¬ 
sider the. wisdom and unanimity of our national councils, 
the firmness of our Citizens, and the patience and bravery 
of our troops, which have produced so happy a termina¬ 
tion of the war, as the most conspicuous effect of the 
Divine interposition, and the surest presage of our fu¬ 
ture happiness. 

u Highly gratified by the favourable sentiments which 
Congress are pleased to express of my past conduct, 
and amply rewarded by the confidence and affection of 
my fellow-citizens, I cannot hesitate to contribute my 
best endeavours towards the establishment of the na¬ 
tional security in whatever manner the sovereign power 
may think proper to direct, until the ratification of the 
definitive treaty of peace, or the final evacuation of our 
country by the British forces; after either of which 
events, I shall ask permission to retire to the peaceful 
shade of private life. 

“ Perhaps, sir, no occasion may offer more suitable 
than the present, to express my humble thanks to God, 
and my grateful acknowledgments to my country, for 
the great and uniform support I have received in every 
vicissitude of fortune, and for the many distinguished 
honours which Congress have been pleased to confer 
upon me in the course of the war.” 


After the final conclusion of the peace in 1783, a proc¬ 
lamation was issued by Congress, October 18th, directing 
the discharge of the army; whereupon general Wash¬ 
ington, before he resigned his important charge, deliver- 


GEORGE WASHINGTON'. 


07^ 
»/ o 


ed the following elegant and pathetic farewell address, 
to the officers and soldiers, under his command, viz. 

General Washington’s farewell orders, to the 

ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 

Rocky-Hill , near Princeton , November 2, 1783. 

The United States in Congress assembled, after giving 
♦ lie most honourable testimony to the federal armies, and 
presenting them with the thanks of their country, for 
their long, eminent, and faithful services—having thought 
proper, by their proclamation, bearing date the 18th of 
October last, to discharge such part of the troops as were 
engaged for the war, and to permit the officers on fur¬ 
lough to retire from service, from and after to-morrow, 
which proclamation having been communicated in the 
public papers for the information and government of all 
concerned ; it only remains for the commander in chief 
to address himself once more, and that lor the last time, 
to the armies of the United States (however widely dis¬ 
persed the individuals who composed them may be) and 
bid them an affectionate—a long farewell. 

But before the commander in chief takes his final 
leave of those he holds most dear, he wishes to indulge 
himself a few moments in calling to mind a slight review 
of the past—he will then take the liberty of exploring, 
with his military friends, their future prospects; of ad¬ 
vising the general line of conduct which, in his opinion, 
ought to be pursued; and he will conclude the address, 
by expressing the obligations he feels himself under for 
the spirited and able assistance he has experienced from 
them, in the performance of an arduous office. 

A contemplation of the complete attainment, at a 
period earlier than could have been expected, of the ob¬ 
ject for which we contended, against so formidable a 
power, cannot but inspire us with astonishment and grati¬ 
tude. The disadvantageous circumstances on our part, 
under which the war was undertaken, can never be for¬ 
gotten. The singular interpositions of Providence, in 
our feeble condition, were such as could scarcely escape 
the attention of the most unobserving; while the unpar¬ 
alleled perseverance of the armies of the United States 


274 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


through almost every possible suffering and discourage¬ 
ment, for the space of eight long years, was little short 
of a standing miracle. 

It is not the meaning, nor within the compass of this 
address, to detail the hardships peculiarly incident to 
our service, or to describe the distresses, which, in seve¬ 
ral instances, have resulted from the extremes of hunger 
and nakedness, combined with the rigours of an incle¬ 
ment season; nor is it necessary to dwell on the dark 
side of our past affairs. Every American officer and 
soldier must now console himself for any unpleasant cir¬ 
cumstances w’hich may have occurred by the recollection 
of the uncommon scenes in which he has been called to 
act no inglorious part, and the astonishing events of which 
he has been a witness; events which have seldom, if 
ever before, taken place on the stage of human action, 
nor can they probably ever happen again. For, who has 
before seen a disciplined army formed at once from such 
raw materials ? Who that was not a witness, could ima¬ 
gine, that the most violent local prejudices would cease 
so soon, and that men who came from the different parts 
of the continent, strongly disposed, by the habits of edu¬ 
cation, to despise and quarrel with each other, would in¬ 
stantly become but one patriotic band of brothers ? or 
who that was not on the spot, can trace the steps, by 
which such a wonderful revolution has been effected, and 
such a glorious period put to all our warlike toils ? 

It is universally acknowledged that the enlarged pros¬ 
pects of happiness, opened by the confirmation of our 
independence and sovereignty, almost exceed the power 
of description: and shall not the brave men who have 
contributed so essentially to these inestimable acquisi¬ 
tions, retiring victorious from the field of war to the field 
of agriculture, participate in all the blessings which have 
been obtained ? In such a republic, who will exclude 
them from the rights of citizens, and the fruits of their 
labours ? In such a country, so happily circumstanced, 
the pursuits of commerce and the cultivation of the soil 
will unfold to industry the certain road to competence. 
To those hardy soldiers, who are actuated by the spirit 
of adventure, the fisheries will afford ample and profit¬ 
able employment; and the extensive and fertile regions 


GEORGE WASHINGTON;. 


• 275 


of the west will yield a most happy asylum to those, who, 
fond of domestic enjoyment, are seeking for personal in¬ 
dependence. Nor is it possible to conceive that any one 
of the United States will prefer a national bankruptcy, 
and a dissolution of the union, to a compliance with the 
the requisitions of Congress and the payment of its just 
debts—so that the officers and soldiers may expect con¬ 
siderable assistance, in recommencing their civil occu¬ 
pations, from the sums due to them from the public, 
which must and will most inevitably be paid. 

In order to effect this desirable purpose, and to re¬ 
move the prejudices which may have taken possession 
oi the minus of any of the good people of the states, it 
is earnestly recommended to all the troops, that, with 
strong attachment to the union, they should carry with 
them into civil society the most conciliating dispositions; 
and that they should prove themselves not less virtuous 
and useful as citizens, than they have been persevering 
and victorious as soldiers. What though there should be 
some envious individuals, who are unwilling to pay the 
debt the public has contracted, or to yield the tribute due 
to merit, yet let such unworthy treatment produce no 
invective, or any instance of intemperate conduct—let it 
be remembered, that the unbiassed voice of the free 
citizens of the United States has promised the just re¬ 
ward, and given the merited applause; let it be known 
and remembered, that the reputation of the federal armies 
is established beyond the reach of malevolence, and let a 
consciousness of their achievements and fame still incite 
the men w r ho composed them, to honourable actions, un¬ 
der the persuasion, that the virtues of economy, prudence, 
and industry, will not be less amiable in civil life, than 
the more splendid qualities of valour, perseverance and 
enterprize, were in the field. Every one may rest as¬ 
sured, that much, very much, of the future happiness of 
the officers and men, will depend upon the wise and 
manly conduct which shall be adopted by them, when 
they are mingled with the great body of the community. 
And, although the general has so frequently given it as 
his opinion, in the most public and explicit manner,.that 
unless the principles of the federal government were 
properly supported, and the powers of the union increas- 


276 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


ed, the honour, dignity, and justice of the nation would 
be lost for ever; yet he cannot help repeating on this 
occasion so interesting a sentiment, and leaving it as his 
last injunction to every officer and soldier, who may view 
the subject in the same serious point of light, to add his 
best endeavours, to those of his worthy fellow citizens, 
towards effecting these great and valuable purposes, on 
which our very existence as a nation so materially de¬ 
pends. 

The commander in chief conceives little is now want¬ 
ing to enable the soldier to change his military character 
into that of the citizen, but that steady and decent tenor 
of behaviour, which has generally distinguished, not 
only the army under his immediate command, but the 
different detachments and separate armies, through the 
course of the war. From their good sense and prudence 
he anticipates the happiest consequences—and while he 
congratulates them on the glorious occasion which ren¬ 
der:? their services in the field no longer necessary, he 
wishes to express the strong obligations he feels himself 
under, for the assistance he has received from every 
class, and in every instance. He presents his thanks in 
the most serious and affectionate manner to the gen¬ 
eral-officers, as well for their counsel on many interest¬ 
ing occasions, as for their ardour in promoting the success 
of the plans he had adopted; to the commandants of regi¬ 
ments and corps, and to the other officers, for their great 
zeal and attention in carrying his orders promptly into 
execution ; to the staff, for their alacrity and exactness 
in peiforming the duties of their several departments; 
and to the non-commissioned officers and private soldiers’ 
for their extraordinary patience in suffering as well as 
theii invincible fortitude in action ; to the various branch¬ 
es of the army, the general takes this last and solemn 
oppoi tunity ot professing his inviolable attachment and 
friendship, He wishes more than bare professions were 
in his power, that he was really able to be useful to them 
all in future life. He flatters himself, however, they will 
do him the justice to believe, that whatever could with 
propriety be attempted by him, has been done. And be¬ 
ing now to conclude these his last public orders, to take 
lus ultimate leave, in a short time, of the military char- 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


2 77 


actcr—and to bid a final adieu to the armies he has so 
long had the honour to command—he can only again 
off er, in their behalf, his recommendations to their grate¬ 
ful country, and his prayers to the God of armies. May 
ample justice be done them here, and may the choicest 
of Heaven’s favours, both here and hereafter, attend 
those, who, under the Divine auspices, have secured in¬ 
numerable blessings for others ! With these wishes, 
and this benediction, the commander in chief is about to 
retire from service. The curtain of separation will soon 
be drawn—and the military scene to him will be closed 
for ever. 

E. Hand, adj. gen. 


To the preceding address the officers of the part 
of the army remaining on the banks of the Hudson, 
returned a suitable answer ; they thanked the com¬ 
mander in chief for the communication of his affection¬ 
ate assurances of his inviolable attachment and friend¬ 
ship ; they assured his Excellency that although as 
yet his endeavours to ensure to the armies the just 
reward ©f their services, had failed of success, they 
were convinced that it had arisen from causes which 
it was not in his power to controul, and should the con¬ 
templated measure never be attained, that their patriot¬ 
ism should still remain unshaken : They were happy in 
the opportunity of congratulating his Excellency on the 
certain conclusion of the Definitive Treaty of Peace , 
assuring him that, relieved at last from long suspense, 
their warmest wish was to return to the bosom of their 
country, to resume the character of citizens; and that it 
should be their highest ambition to become useful ones. 
To his Excellency they were convinced that this great 
event must be peculiarly pleasing; because, while at the 
head of the armies, urged by patriotic virtues and mag¬ 
nanimity, he persevered, under the pressure of every 
possible difficulty and discouragement, in the pursuit of 
the great objects of the war— the freedom and safety of 
his country;—his heart panted for the tranquil enjoy¬ 
ments of peace. They concluded with sincere prayers 
to God, long to bestow happiness to their commander, 
Vol. ii. 2 B 


278 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


and that when he quits the stage of human life, he may 
receive from the unerring Judge, the rewards of val¬ 
our exerted to save the oppressed, of patriotism and dis¬ 
interested virtue. 

On the 25th of November, 1783, New-York was 
evacuated by the British army; same day the American 
troops marched in, and took possession of the city ; after 
which General Washington and the governor made their 
public entry. The arrangement and the whole conduct 
of the march and the tranquility which succeeded it 
through the day and night, was admirable ! and the 
grateful citizens, feeling the most affectionate impres¬ 
sions from the elegant and efficient disposition which 
prevailed through the whole event, on their returning 
from exile, addressed his excellency the commander in 
chief in behalf of themselves and their suffering brethren, 
looking up to him with unusual joy: they welcomed 
him to the city, long torn from them by the hand of op¬ 
pression, but which by his wisdom, under the guidance 
of Providence, had again been rendered the seat of peace 
and freedom ; they assured him that they should pre¬ 
serve, to the last, their gratitude for his services and 
veneration for his character, and required him u to accept 
of their sincere and earnest wishes, that he may long 
enjoy that calm domestic felicity, which he had so gen¬ 
erously sacrificed ; that the cries of injured liberty may 
never more interrupt his repose ; and that his happiness 
may be equal to his virtues.” 

Previous to General Washington’s leaving New-York, 
on the 6th of December, the principal officers of the 
army then in the city, assembled at Frances’ tavern, to 
take a final leave of their illustrious and much-loved com¬ 
mander. The passions of human nature were never more 
tenderly agitated than in this interesting scene. His Ex¬ 
cellency having filled a glass of wine, thus addressed his 
brave fellow-soldiers : 

a With a heart full of love and gratitude , I now take 
leave of you : I most devoutly wish that your latter days 
may be prosperous and ha fifty, as your former ones have 
been glorious and honourable .” 

These words produced extreme sensibility on both 
sides: they were answered by warm expressions, andfcr- 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


179 


vent wishes, from the gentlemen of the army, whose 
truly pathetic feelings it is not in our power to convey 
to the reader. Soon after this scene was closed, the Go¬ 
vernor, the council and citizens of the first distinction 
w aited on the General, and in terms the most affectionate, 
took their leave—The corps of Light Infantry was drawn 
lip in a line, and the Commander in Chief passed through 
them on his way to White-hall, where he embarked in 
his barge for Powles Hook, from whence he proceeded 
to Philadelphia, where he made a short stay. Here he 
delivered to the Comptroller of the public Treasury an 
account of the expenditure of all the public money which 
he had received during the war; by which it appeared, 
that the whole sum which had gone through his hands 
only amounted to fourteen thousand four hundred and 
seventy-nine pounds, eighteen shillings and nine-pence 
sterling, about sixty-four thousand three hundred and 
fifty dollars, nearly one hundred and fifty dollars per 
week. 

From Philadelphia he proceeded to Annapolis, where 
the Congress was then sitting, and having obtained leave, 
he terminated his military career, and resigned his com¬ 
mission on the 23d of December: upon this occasion he 
delivered the following short and pathetic address, viz. 

GENERAL WASHINGTON’S ADDRESS TO CONGRESS, ON 
THE RESIGNATION OF HIS COMMISSION. 

“ Mr. President, 

“ The great events, on which my resignation depend¬ 
ed, having at length taken place, 1 have now the honour 
of offering my sincere congratulations to Congress, and 
of presenting myself before them, to surrender into 
their hands the trust committed to me, and to claim the 
indulgence of retiring from the service of my country. 

u Happy in the confirmation of our independence and 
sovereignty, and pleased with the opportunity afforded 
the United States of becoming a respectable nation—1 
resign, with satisfaction, the appointment I accepted with 
diffidence, a diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so 
arduous a task, which, however, was superceded by a 
confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the support of 


28 ® 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


the supreme power of the union, and the patronage of 
Heaven. 

“ The successful termination of the war has verified 
the most sanguine expectations; and my gratitude for 
the interposition of Providence, and the assistance I 
have received from my countrymen, increases with every 
review of the momentous contest. 

“ While I repeat my obligations to the army in gene¬ 
ral, I should do injustice to my own feelings not to ac¬ 
knowledge, in this place, the peculiar services and dis¬ 
tinguished merits of the gentlemen who have been at¬ 
tached to my person during the war. It was impossible 
the choice of confidential officers to compose my family 
should be more fortunate; permit me, sir, to recom¬ 
mend in particular those who have continued in the ser¬ 
vice to the present moment, as worthy the favourable 
notice and patronage of Congress. 

“ I consider it as ..n indispensable duty to close this last 
solemn act of my official life, by commending the inter¬ 
ests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty 
God, and those who have the superintendence of them 
io his holy keeping. 

“ Having now finished the work assigned me, I re¬ 
tire from the great theatre of action ; and bidding an af¬ 
fectionate farewel to this august body, under whose or¬ 
ders I have so long acted, I here offer my commission, 
and take my leave of all the employments of public life. 

G. Washington.” 

City of Annafiolis , Dec . 23, 1783. 


ANSWER OF CONGRESS. 

il Sir, 

“ The United States in Congress assembled, receive, 
with emotions too affecting for utterance, the solemn re¬ 
signation of the authorities under which you have led 
their troops with success, through a perilous and doubt¬ 
ful war. 

“ Called upon by your country to defend its invaded 
rights, you accepted the sacred charge before it had 
formed alliances, and whilst it was without funds or a go¬ 
vernment to support you. 


GEORGE WASHING,TON. 


28.1 


u You have conducted the great military contest with 
wisdom and fortitude, invariably regarding the rights of 
the civil power, through all disasters and changes ; you 
have, by the love and confidence of your fellow-citizens, 
enabled them to display their martial genius, and trans¬ 
mit their fame to posterity; you have persevered, till 
these United States, aided by a magnanimous king and 
nation, have been enabled, under a just Providence, to 
close the war in freedom, safety, and independence; on 
which happy event, we sincerely join you in congratu¬ 
lations. 

u Plaving defended the standard of liberty in this new 
world—having taught a lesson useful to those who in¬ 
flict, and to those who feel oppression—you retire from 
the great theatre of action with the blessings of your 
fellow-citizens; but the glory of your virtues will not 
terminate with your military command : it will continue 
to animate remotest ages. We feel, with you, our obli¬ 
gations to the army in general, and will particularly 
charge ourselves with the interests of those confidential 
officers who have attended your person to this affecting 
moment. 

“ We join you in commending the interests of our 
dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, be¬ 
seeching him to dispose the hearts and minds of its citi¬ 
zens to improve the opportunity afforded them of be¬ 
coming a happy and respectable nation ; and for you, we 
address to him our earnest prayers, that a life so beloved 
may be fostered with all his care ; that your days may 
be happy as they have been illustrious; and that he will 
finally give you that reward which this world cannot 
give.” 


With these becoming sentiments, general Washing¬ 
ton retired from the toils of war to enjoy in private the 
rural pleasures of Mount Vernon, carrying with him 
the thanks and blessings of a grateful people, emulating 
the example of the virtuous Roman general,* who, vie- 


* CincmnatuSs 

2 B 2 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


2S3 

torious, left the tented field, covered with honour, and 
withdrew from public life. 

No person, who had not the advantage of being present 
when he received the intelligence of peace, and who did 
not accompany him to his domestic retirement, can de¬ 
scribe the relief which that joyful event brought to his 
labouring mind, or the supreme satisfaction with which 
he withdrew to private life. From his triumphal entry 
into New-York, upon the evacuation of that city by the- 
British army, to his arrival at Mount Vernon, after the 
resignation of his commission to Congress, festive crowds 
impeded his passage through all the populous towns: 
the devotion of a whole people pursued him, with pray¬ 
ers to Heaven for blessings on his head, while their gra¬ 
titude sought the most expressive language of manifest* 
ing itself to him, as their common father and benefac¬ 
tor. When he became a private citizen, he had the un¬ 
usual felicity to find that his native state was among the 
most zealous in doing justice to his merits; and that 
stronger demonstrations of affectionate esteem (if pos¬ 
sible) were given by the citizens of his neighbourhood, 
than by any other description of men on the continent. 
As he always refused to accept of any pecuniary com¬ 
pensation for his public services, or provision for the 
augmented expenses which he must have incurred in 
consequence of his public employment, no salary was 
ever annexed by Congress to his important command, 
and he only drew weekly for the expenses of his public 
table and other necessary demands, although proposals 
have been made in the most delicate manner, particularly 
by the states of Virginia and Pennsylvania. His conduct 
in this particular is noble and magnanimous, and exhibits 
to the world an undeniable evidence of self-disinterest¬ 
edness, of the purity of his motives, and integrity of his 
heart. His answer to the governor of Virginia, declin¬ 
ing the acceptance of a present from that state, is so cha¬ 
racteristic of his whole public conduct, that we are in¬ 
duced to give it in his own words, and we are convinced 
it will prove acceptable to his admirers. 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


213 


Letter from his Excellency General Washington , to the 
Governor of Virginia , declining the acceptance of fifty 
shares in the companies for opening the navigation of 
James and Patomac rivers , which had been vested in 
him by act of the legislature of that commonwealth , 
as a small acknowledgment of his merits and services. 

w Your Excellency having been pleased to transmit to 
me a copy of the act appropriating to my benefit, certain 
shares in the companies for opening the navigation of 
James and Patomac rivers, I take the liberty of return¬ 
ing to the assembly, through your hands, the profound 
and grateful acknowledgments, inspired by so signal a 
mark of their beneficent intentions towards me. I beg 
you, sir, to assure them, that I am filled on this occasion 
with every sentiment which can flow from a heart, warm 
with love for my country—sensible to every token of its 
approbation and affection, and solicitous to testify, in 
every instance, a respectful submission to its wishes. 
With these sentiments in my bosom, I need not dwell 
on the anxiety I feel, in being obliged in this instance 
to decline a favour, which is rendered no less flattering 
by the manner in which it is conveyed, than it is affec¬ 
tionate in itself. In explaining this obligation, I pass 
over a comparison of rny endeavours in the public ser¬ 
vice, with the many honourable testimonies of approba¬ 
tion which have already so far over-rated and over-paid 
them—reciting one consideration only, which supercedes 
the necessity of recurring to every other. When I was 
first called to the station with which I was honoured 
during the late conflict for our liberties; to the diffidence 
which I had so many reasons to feel in accepting it, I 
thought it my duty to join a firm resolution to shut my 
hand against every pecuniary recompence. To this reso¬ 
lution I have inviolably adhered; and from this resolution 
(if I had the inclination,) I do not consider myself at 
liberty to depart. Whilst I repeat, therefore, my fervent 
acknowledgments to the legislature for their very kind 
sentiments and intentions in my favour, and at the same 
time beg them to be persuaded that a remembrance of 
this singular proof of goodness towards me, will never 
cease to cherish returns of the warmest affection and 



234 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


gratitude; I must pray that their act, so far as it has for 
its object my personal emolument, may not have its effect. 
But if it should please the general assembly to permit 
me to turn the destination of the fund vested in me, from 
my private emolument to objects of a public nature, it 
will be my study, in selecting these, to prove the sin¬ 
cerity of my gratitude, by preferring such as may ap¬ 
pear most subservient to the enlightened and patriotic 
views of the legislature. 

I am, Stc. 

George Washington.” 

Upon this request, the legislature of Virginia repealed 
so much of the act referred to as related to the vesting 
the above-mentioned shares in General Washington and 
heirs, and enacted that the shares and profits accruing 
therefrom, should stand appropriated to such objects of 
a public nature as his Excellency should direct and ap¬ 
point. Some time afterwards, General Washington ap¬ 
plied these shares of the canal company to the erection 
and establishment of two seminaries of learning in Vir¬ 
ginia, which were accomplished under his immediate 
direction. 

Although the enlarged mind of General Washington 
felt superior to such considerations, and nobly refused 
any recompence for himself, yet he eloquently, though 
unsuccessfully, pleaded the cause of his fellow-soldiers, 
and other public creditors. He considered himself as 
pledged to the army that their country would do them 
ample justice, in rewarding them for their glorious ser¬ 
vices, exercised in its defence, and finally crowned by 
the complete establishment of its liberty and indepen¬ 
dence. He could foresee the evils which were to follow 
if a regular and efficient revenue system was not pursu¬ 
ed:—-! o effect these purposes, and to inculcate the ne¬ 
cessity of union, justice, subordination, and of such 
principles and practices as the new situation of his coun¬ 
try required, he published his parting advice to his 
countrymen, in the following eloquent circular letter, 
addressed to the governors of the individual states, viz. 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


285 


A CIRCULAR LETTER 

From his Excellency George Washington , Commander in 

Chief of the Armies of the United States of America , 

to the Governors of the several States. 

Sir, 

The great object for which I had the honour to hold 
an appointment in the service of my country, being ac¬ 
complished, I am now preparing to resign it into the 
hands of Congress, and return to that domestic retire¬ 
ment, which, it is well known, I left with the greatest 
reluctance; a retirement for which I have never ceased 
to sigh through a long and painful absence, in which (re¬ 
mote from the noise and trouble of the world) I meditate 
to pass the remainder of life in a state of undisturbed 
repose: but, before I carry this resolution into effect, I 
think it a duty incumbent upon me to make this my last 
official communication, to congratulate you on the glo¬ 
rious events which Heaven has been pleased to produce 
in our favour, to offer my sentiments respecting some 
important subjects, which appear to me to be intimately 
connected with the tranquillity of the United States, to 
take my leave of your Excellency as a public character, 
and to give my final blessing to that country in whose 
service I have spent the prime of my life; for whose 
sake I have consumed so many anxious days and watchful 
nights: and whose happiness, being extremely dear to 
me, will always constitute no inconsiderable part of my 
own. 

Impressed with the liveliest sensibility on this pleasing 
occasion, I will claim the indulgence of dilating the more 
copiously on the subjects of our mutual felicitation. \V hen 
we consider the magnitude of the prize we contended 
for, the doubtful nature of the contest, and the favoura¬ 
ble manner in which it has terminated; we shall find the 
greatest possible reason for gratitude and rejoicing: this 
is a theme that will afford infinite delight to every be¬ 
nevolent and liberal mind, whether the event in con¬ 
templation be considered as a source of present enjoy¬ 
ment, or the parent of future happiness; and we shall 
have equal occasion to felicitate ourselves on the lot 
which Providence has assigned us, whether we view it 
in a natural, a political, or moral point of view. 


286 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


The citizens of America, placed in the most enviable 
condition, as the sole lords and proprietors of a vast tract 
of continent, comprehending all the various soils and 
climates of the world, and abounding with all the neces¬ 
saries and conveniences of life, are now, by the late sa¬ 
tisfactory pacification, acknowledged to be possessed of 
absolute freedom and independency; they are from this 
period to be considered as the actors on a most conspi¬ 
cuous theatre, which seems to be peculiarly designed 
by Providence for the display of human greatness and 
felicity: here they are not only surrounded with every 
thing which can contribute to the completion of private 
and domestic enjoyment, but Heaven has crowned all its 
other blessings, by giving a fairer opportunity for politi¬ 
cal happiness than any other nation has ever been favour¬ 
ed with. Nothing can illustrate these observations more 
lorcibly than the recollection of the happy conjuncture 
of times and circumstances, under which our Republic 
assumed its rank among the nations. The foundation 
ot our empire was not laid in a gloomy age of ignorance 
and superstition, but at an epocha when the rights of 
mankind were better understood and more clearly defin¬ 
ed, that at any former period : the researches of the human 
mind after social happiness have been carried to a great 
extent: the treasures of knowledge acquired by the 
labours of philosophers, sages and legislators, through 
a long succession ot years, are laid open for use, and 
their collected wisdom may be happily applied in the 
establishment of our forms of government: the free cul¬ 
tivation of letters, the unbounded extension of com¬ 
merce, the progressive refinement of manners, the 
growing liberality of sentiment, and above all, the pure 
and benign light of revelation, have had a meliorating 
influence on mankind, and increased the blessings of 
society. At this auspicious period the United States 
came into existence as a nation, and if her citizens should 
not be completely free and happy, the fault will be en¬ 
tirely their own. 

Such is our situation, and such are our prospects ; but 
notwithstanding the cup of blessing is thus reached out 
to us—notwithstanding happiness is ours, if we have a 
disposition to seize the occasion; and make it our own: 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


28 7 


yet it appears to me, there is an option still left to the 
United States of America, whether they will be respect¬ 
able and prosperous, or contemptible and miserable as a 
nation. This is the time of their political probation; 
this is the moment, when the eyes of the world are 
turned upon them; this is the time to establish or ruin 
their national character forever; this is the favourable 
moment to give such atone to the Federal Government, 
as will enable it to answer the ends of its institution; or 
this may be the ill-fated moment for relaxing the powers 
of the Union, annihilating the cement of the Confede¬ 
ration, and exposing us to become the sport of European 
politics, which may play one State against another, to 
prevent their growing importance, and to serve their 
own interested purposes. For, according to the system 
of policy the States shall adopt at this moment, they will 
stand or fall ; and, by their confirmation or lapse, it is 
yet to be decided, whether the revolution must ultimate¬ 
ly be considered as a blessing or a curse—a blessing 
or a curse, not to the present age alone, for with our fate 
will the destiny of unborn millions be involved. 

With this conviction of the importance of the present 
crisis, silence in me would be a crime. I will therefore 
speak to your Excellency the language of freedom and of 
sincerity, without disguise. I am aware, however, those 
who differ from me in political sentiments, may per¬ 
haps remark I am stepping out of the proper line of my 
duty; and they may possibly ascribe to arrogance or os¬ 
tentation, what I know is alone the result of the purest 
intentions ; but the rectitude of my own heart, which dis¬ 
dains such unworthy motives—the part I have hitherto 
acted in life—the determination I have formed of not 
taking any share in public business hereafter—the ardent 
desire I feel and shall continue to manifest, of quietly 
enjoying in private life, after all the toils of war, the 
benefits of a wise and liberal government,—will, I flatter 
myself, sooner or later, convince my countrymen, that I 
could have no sinister views in delivering, with so little 
reserve, the opinions contained in this Address. 

There are four things which I humbly conceive arc 
essential to the well-being, I may even venture to say to 
the existence of the United States, as an independent 
power. 


288 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


1st. An indissoluble union of the states under one fed¬ 
eral head. 

2d. A sacred regard to public justice. 

3d. 1 he adoption of a proper peace establishment. 

And, 

4th. The prevalence of that pacific and friendly 
disposition among the people of the United States, which 
will nduce them to forget their local prejudices and 
politics, to make those mutual concessions which are 
requisite to the general prosperity, and, in some instances, 
to sacrifice their individual advantages to the interest of 
the community. 

These are the pillars on which the glorious fabric of 
our independency and national character must be support¬ 
ed. Liberty is the basis, and whoever would dare to sap 
the foundation, or overturn the structure, under whatever 
specious pretext he may attempt it, will merit the bitter¬ 
est execration and the severest punishment which can be 
inflicted by his injured country. 

On the three first articles I will make a few observa¬ 
tions, leaving the last to the good sense and serious con¬ 
sideration of those immediately concerned. 

Under the first head, although it may not be necessary 
or proper for me, in this place, to enter into a particular 
disquisition of the principles of the union, and to take up 
the gieat question which has been frequently agitated, 
whether it be expedient and requisite for the states to 
delegate a larger proportion of power to Congress, or not; 
yet it will be a part of my duty, and that of every true 
patriot, to assert, without reserve, and to insist upon the 
following positions. That unless the states will suffer 
Congress to exercise those prerogatives they are un¬ 
doubtedly invested with by the constitution, everything 

must very rapidly tend to anarchy and confusion_That 

it is indispensable to the happiness of the individual 
st ates, that there should be lodged, somewhere a supreme 
power, to regulate and govern the general concerns of 
the confederated republic, without which the union can¬ 
not be of long duration—That there must be a faithful 
and pointed compliance on the part of every state, with 
the late proposals and demands of Congress, or the most 
iutal consequences will ensue—That whatever measures 


GEORGE WASHINGTON*. 


289 


have a tendency to dissolve the union, or contribute to 
violate or lesson the sovereign authority, ought to be 
considered as hostile to the liberty and independence of 
America, and the authors of them treated accordingly. 
—And lastly, that unless we can be enabled by the con¬ 
currence of the States to participate of the fruits of the 
revolution, and enjoy the essential benefits of civil soci¬ 
ety, under a form of government so free and uncorrupted, 
so happily guarded against the danger of oppression, as 
has been devised and adopted by the articles of confede¬ 
ration, it will be a subject of regret, that so much blood 
and treasure have been lavished for no purpose ; that so 
many sufferings have been encountered without a com¬ 
pensation, and that so many sacrifices have been made in 
vain. Many other considerations might here be adduced 
to prove, that without an entire conformity to the spirit 
of the Union, we cannot exist as an independent power. 
It will be sufficient for my purpose to mention one or two, 
which seem to me of the greatest importance. It is only 
in our united character, that we are known as an empire, 
that our independence is acknowledged, that our power 
can be regarded, or our credit supported among foreign 
nations. The treaties of the European powers with the 
United States of America, will have no validity on a disso¬ 
lution of the Union. We shall be left nearly in a state of 
nature ; or we may find, by our own unhappy experience, 
that there is a natural and necessary progression from the 
extreme of anarchy to the extreme of tyranny; and that 
arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins 
of liberty abused to licentiousness. 

As to the second article, which respects the perform¬ 
ance of public justice, Congress have, in their late Ad¬ 
dress to the United States, almost exhausted the subject; 
they have explained their ideas so fully, and have en¬ 
forced the obligations the states arc under to render com¬ 
plete justice to all the public creditors, with so much 
dignity and energy, that, in my opinion, no real friend to 
the honour and independency of America can hesitate a 
single moment respecting the propriety of complying 
with the just and honourable measures proposed. Iftheir 
arguments do not produce conviction, I know of nothing 
that will have greater influence, especially when we re- 

Vol. ii. 2 C 


290 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


collect that the system referred to, being the result of the 
collected wisdom of the continent, must be esteemed, if 
not perfect, certainly the least objectionable of any that 
could be devised ; and that, if it should not be carried into 
immediate execution, a national bankruptcy,, with all its 
deplorable consequences, will take place, before any dif¬ 
ferent plan can possibly be proposed or adopted. So press¬ 
ing are the present circumstances, and such is the alter¬ 
native now offered to the states. 

The ability of the country to discharge the debts which 
have been incurred in its defence, is not to be doubted. 
An inclination, I flatter myself, will not be wanting; the 
path of our duty is plain before us; honesty will be 
found, on every experiment, to be the best and only true 
policy. Let us then, as a nation, be just; let us fulfil the 
public contracts which Congress had undoubtedly a right 
to make for the purpose of carrying on the war, with the 
same good faith we suppose ourselves bound to perform 
our private engagements. In the mean time, let an atten¬ 
tion to the cheerful performance of their proper busi¬ 
ness, as individuals, and as members of society, be ear¬ 
nestly inculcated on the citizens of America; then will 
they strengthen the hands of government, and be happy 
under its protection. Every one will reap the fruit of his 
labours ; every one will enjoy his own acquisitions, with¬ 
out molestation and without danger. 

In this state of absolute freedom and perfect security, 
who will grudge to yield a very little of his property to 
support the common interests of society and ensure the 
protection of government? Who does not remember 
the frequent declarations at the commencement of the 
w r ar, that we should be completely satisfied, if, at the 
expense of one half, we could defend the remainder of 
our possessions ? Where is the man to be found, who 
wishes to remain indebted for the defence of his own 
person and property, to the exertions, the bravery, and 
the blood of others, without making one generous effort 
to pay the debt of honour and of gratitude ? In what part 
of the continent shall we find any man, or body of men, 
who would not blush to stand up, and propose measures 
purposely calculated to rob the soldier of his stipend, 
and the public creditor of his due ? And were it possi- 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


291 


ble that such a flagrant instance of injustice could ever 
happen, would it not excite the general indignation, and 
tend to bring down upon the authors of such measures 
the aggravated vengeance of Heaven ? If, after all, a spi¬ 
rit of disunion, or a temper of obstinacy and perverse¬ 
ness should manifest itself in any of the states; if such 
an ungracious disposition should attempt to frustrate all 
the happy effects that might be expected to flow from 
the union; if there should be a refusal to comply with 
the requisitions for funds to discharge the annual inter¬ 
est of the public debts, and if that refusal should revive 
all those jealousies, and produce all those evils which arc 
now happily removed—Congress, who have, in all their 
transactions, shown a great degree of magnanimity and 
justice, will stand justified in the sight of God and man ; 
And that state alone, which puts itself in opposition to 
the aggregate wisdom of the continent, and follows such 
mistaken and pernicious counsels, will be responsible for 
all the consequences. 

For my own part, conscious of having acted, while a 
servant of the public, in the manner I conceived best 
suited to promote the real interests of my country ; hav¬ 
ing, in consequence of my fixed belief, in some measure 
pledged myself to the army, that their country would fi¬ 
nally do them complete and ample justice, and not wish¬ 
ing to conceal any instance of my official conduct from 
the eyes of the world, I have thought proper to transmit 
to your Excellency the enclosed collection of papers, re¬ 
lative to the half-pay and commutation granted by Con¬ 
gress to the officers of the army : from these communica¬ 
tions my decided sentiments will be clearly comprehend¬ 
ed, together with the conclusive reasons, which induced 
me, at an early period, to recommend the adoption of this 
measure in the most earnest and serious manner As the 
proceedings of Congress, the army, and myself, arc open 
to all, and contain, in my opinion, sufficient information 
to remove the prejudice and errors which may have been 
entertained by any, I think it unnecessary to say any 
thing more, than just to observe, that the resolutions of 
Congress, now alluded to, are undoubtedly as 'abso¬ 
lutely binding upon the United States, as the most so¬ 
lemn acts of confederation or legislation. 


292 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


As to the idea, which, I am informed, has in some 
instances prevailed, that the half-pay and commutation 
are to be regarded merely in the odious light of a pen¬ 
sion, it ought to be exploded for ever: that provision 
should be viewed, as it really was, a reasonable compen¬ 
sation offered by Congress, at a time when they had no¬ 
thing else to give to the officers of the army, for services 
then to be performed: it was the only means to prevent 
a total derilection of the service; it was a part of their 
hire. I may be allowed to say, it was the price of their 
blood, and of your independence ; it is therefore more 
than a common debt, it is a debt of honour ; it can never 
be considered as a pension or gratuity, nor be cancelled 
until it is fairly discharged. 

With regard to the distinction between officers and 
soldiers, it is sufficient that the uniform experience of 
every nation of the world, combined with our own, 
proves the utility and propriety of the discrimination. 
Rewards, in proportion to the aid the public derives from 
them, are unquestionably due to all its servants. In some 
lines the soldiers have, perhaps, generally, had as ample 
compensation for their services, by the large bounties 
which have been paid them, as their officers will receive 
in the proposed commutation ; in others, if besides the 
donation of land, the payment of arrearages of clothing 
and wages (in which articles all the component parts of 
the army must be put upon the same footing) we take 
into the estimate, the bounties many of the soldiers have 
received, and the gratuity of one year’s full pay, which 
is promised to all, possibly their situation (every circum¬ 
stance being duly considered) will not be deemed less 
eligible than that of the officers. 

Should a farther reward, however, be judged equita¬ 
ble, I will venture to assert, no man will enjoy greater sa¬ 
tisfaction than myself, on seeing an exemption from taxes 
for a limited time (which has been petitioned for in some 
instances) or any other adequate immunity or compen¬ 
sation granted to the brave defenders of their country’s 
cause: but neither the adoption or rejection of this pro¬ 
position will in any manner affect, much less militate 
against the act of Congress, by which they have offered 
five years full pay, in lieu of the half-pay for life, 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


293 


which had been before promised to the officers of the 
army. 

Before I conclude the subject of public justice, I can¬ 
not omit to mention the obligations this country is under 
to that meritorious class of veteran non-commissioned 
officers and privates, who have been discharged for 
inability, in consecpience of the resolution of Con¬ 
gress, of the 23d of April, 1782, on an annual pension 
for life. Their peculiar sufferings, their singular merits 
and claims to that provision need only be known, to inter¬ 
est all the feelings of humanity in their behalf. Nothing 
but a punctual payment of their annual allowance can 
rescue them from the most complicated misery ; and no¬ 
thing could be a more melancholy and distressing sight, 
than to behold those who have shed their blood, or lost 
their limbs in the service of their country, without a 
shelter, without a friend, and without the means of ob¬ 
taining any of the comforts or necessaries of life, com¬ 
pelled to beg their daily bread from door to door. Suf¬ 
fer me to recommend those of this description belonging 
to your state, to the warmest patronage of your Excel¬ 
lency and your legislature. 

It is necessary to say but a few words on the third to¬ 
pic which was proposed, and which regards particularly 
the defence of the republic. As there can be little doubt 
but Congress will recommend a proper peace establish¬ 
ment for the United States, in which a due attention will 
be paid to the importance of placing the militia of the 
union upon a regular and respectable footing; if this 
should be the case, I would beg leave to urge the greet 
advantage of it in the strongest terms. 

The militia of this country must be considered as the 
palladium of our security, and the first effectual resort 
in case of hostility : it is essential, therefore, that the 
same system should pervade the whole; that the forma¬ 
tion and discipline of the militia of the continent should 
be absolutely uniform; and that the same species of 
arms, accoutrements, and military apparatus, should be 
introduced in every part of the United States. No one, 
who has not learned it from experience, can conceive the 
difficulty, expense, and confusion which result from a 

o p o 


294 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


contrary system, or the vague arrangements which have 
hitherto prevailed. 

If, in treating of political points, a greater latitude 
than usual has been taken in the course of this Address, 
the importance of the crisis, and the magnitude of the 
objects in discussion, must be my apology : It is however, 
neither my wish nor expectation, that the preceding ob¬ 
servations should claim any regard, except so far as they 
should appear to be dictated by a good intention; conso¬ 
nant to the immediate rules of justice; calculated to 
produce a liberal system of policy, and founded on what¬ 
ever experience may have been acquired by a long and 
close attention to public business. Here I might speak 
with more confidence, from my actual observations; and 
if it would not swell this letter (already too prolix) be¬ 
yond the bounds I had prescribed myself, I could de¬ 
monstrate to every mind, open to conviction, that in less 
time, and with much less expense than has been incurred, 
the war might have been brought to the same happy con¬ 
clusion, if the resources of the continent could have been 
properly drawn forth ; that the distresses and disappoint¬ 
ments which have very often occurred, have, in too many 
instances, resulted more from a want of energy in the 
continental government, than a deficiency of means in 
the particular States: That the inefficacy of the mea¬ 
sures, arising from the want of an adequate authority in 
the supreme power, from a partial compliance with the 
requisitions of Congress in some of the States, and from 
a failure of punctuality in others, while it tended to 
damp the zeal of those who were more willing to exert 
themselves, served also to accumulate the expenses of 
the Avar, and to frustrate the best concerted plans; and 
that the discouragement occasioned by the complicated 
difficulties and embarrassments, in which our affairs were 
by this means involved, would have long ago produced 
the dissolution of any army, less patient, less virtuous, 
and less persevering than that which I have had the 
honour to command. But Avhile I mention those things, 
which are notorious facts, as the defects of our Federal 
Constitution, particularly in the prosecution of a war, I 
beg it may be understood, that as I have ever taken a 
pleasure in gratefully acknowledging the assistance and 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


295 


support I have derived from every class of citizens; so 
shall I always be happy to do justice to the unparalleled 
exertions of the individual States, on many interesting 
occasions. 

I have thus freely disclosed what I wished to make 
known before I surrendered up my public trust to those 
who committed it to me : The task is now accomplished. 
I now bid adieu to your Excellency, as the Chief Magis¬ 
trate of your State ; at the same time I bid a last farewell 
to the cares of office, and all the employments of public 
life. 

It remains, then, to be my final and only request, that 
your Excellency will communicate these sentiments to 
your legislature, at their next meeting; and that they 
may be considered as the legacy of one who has ardently 
wished, on all occasions, to be useful to his country, and 
who, even in the shade of retirement, will not fail to im¬ 
plore the Divine benediction upon it. 

I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have 
you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy 
protection; that he would incline the hearts of the citi¬ 
zens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience 
to government; to entertain a brotherly affection and 
love for one another, for their fellow-citizens of the 
United States at large ; and particularly for their brethren 
who have served in the field ; and finally, that he would 
most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, 
to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, 
humility, and pacific temper of mind, whicli were 
the characteristics of the Divine author of our blessed 
religion; without an humble imitation of whose exam¬ 
ple, in these things, we can never hope to be a happy 
nation. 

I have the honour to be, with much esteem and re¬ 
spect, Sir, your Excellency’s most obedient, and most 
humble servant, 

G. Washington. 

General Washington having retired from all public 
employment, now assumed the character ol a private 
gentleman; he employed himself in improving his farms 
and plantation, and in cultivating the arts of peace. But 


296 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


in this retreat of happiness and rural simplicity he was 
not long suffered to remain; it was too soon for the fa¬ 
ther of America to leave his infant care, his well-tried 
virtues were generally and justly known to his fellow- 
citizens, and their confidence in his judgment, experience 
and disinterested patriotism, was universal even to en¬ 
thusiasm. Four years had not expired from the period 
at which he resigned his military command, when the 
voice of his country again called him to its service. 

In these peaceful scenes, Washington enjoyed the ra¬ 
tional delights of rural life from the year i 783, till the 
summer of 1787, when he was chosen President of the 
Convention, which met at Philadelphia, and framed the 
present Constitution of the United States. The Federal 
Union after eleven years experience, had been found in¬ 
adequate to the purposes of government. The fundamen¬ 
tal distinction between the Articles of Confederation, and 
the new Constitution, lies in this; the former acted only 
on States, the latter on individuals;—the former could 
neither raise men or money by its own authority, but lay 
at the discretion of 13 different Legislatures, and, without 
their unanimous concurrence, was unable to provide for 
the public safety, or for the payment of the national debt. 
By the new Constitution, one Legislative, Executive, and 
Judicial power pervades the whole Union.” After a full 
consideration, and thorough discussion of its principles, 
it was ratified by 11 of the 13 States, and North-Carolina 
and Rhode-Island have since given their concurrence. 

The new Constitution being thus adopted, Washing¬ 
ton was chosen President in April, 1789, by the unani¬ 
mous vote of his countrymen. When he received intel¬ 
ligence of his election, he set out from Mount Vernon 
for New-York. He was escorted by the militia and 
gentlemen of the first character from State to State, and 
numerous addresses of Congratulation were presented 
to him by the inhabitants of the towns through which he 
passed. On his approach to Philadelphia, he was met 
by above 20,000 citizens, who conducted him to the city, 
where an elegant entertainment was prepared for him. 

His progress from Philadelphia to New-York is thus 
described by an elegant writer, and presents an animated 
picture of public gratitude. “ When Mr. Washington 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


29 7 


crossed the Delaware and landed on the Jersey shore, 

t J * 

he was saluted with 3 cheers by the inhabitants of the 
vicinity. When he came to the brow of the hill on his 
way to Trenton, a triumphal arch was erected on the 
bridge, by the direction of the ladies of the place. The 
crown of the arch was highly ornamented with imperial 
laurels and flowers, and on it was displayed, in large 
figures, “ December 26th, 1776.” On the sweep of the 
arch, was this inscription, “ The Defender of the Mo¬ 
thers will be the Protector of the Daughters.” On the 
north side were ranged a number of young girls dressed 
in white, with garlands of flowers on their heads, and bas¬ 
kets of flowers on their arms—in the second row stood 
the young ladies, and behind them the married ladies of 
the town. The instant he passed the arch, the young 
girls began to sing the following ode: 

“ Welcome, mighty Chief, once more, 
u Welcome to this grateful shore:— 
u Now no mercenary foe 
“ Aims, again, the fatal blow— 
u Aims at thee the fatal blow. 

u Virgins fair, and matrons grave, 

“ These thy conqTing arms did save 
“ Build for thee triumphant bowers ; 

“ Strew ye fair, his way with flowers, 

“ Strew your Hero’s way with flowers.” 

“ As they sung the last lines, they strewed their 
flowers on the road before their beloved Deliverer.—His 
situation on this occasion, contrasted with what he had, 
in December 1776, felt on the same spot, when the af¬ 
fairs of America were at the lowest ebb of depression, 
filled him with sensations that cannot be described. He 
was rowed across the bay from Elizabeth-Town to New- 
York, in an elegant barge, by 13 pilots. All the vessels 
in the harbour hoisted their flags. On his landing, uni¬ 
versal joy diffused itself through every order of the 
people, and he was received and congratulated by the 
Governor of the State and officers of the Corporation. 
In the evening, the houses of the inhabitants were bril¬ 
liantly illuminated. 


298 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


On the 30th of April he was inaugurated President 
of the United States, and took the oath enjoined by the 
Constitution, in the following words, “ I do solemnly 
swear, that I will faithfully execute the office of President 
of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability 
protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” 
An universal and solemn silence prevailed among the 
spectators during this part of the ceremony. The Chan¬ 
cellor then proclaimed him President of the United 
States, and was answered by the discharge of cannon, 
and the acclamations of 20,000 citizens. After which 
he delivered the following inaugural address to both 
houses of Congress, viz. 

INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNI¬ 
TED STATES TO BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS. 

Gentlemen , 

u Among the vicissitudes incident to life, no event 
could have filled me with greater anxieties, than that, 
of which the notification was transmitted by your order, 
and received on the fourteenth day of the present month : 
on the one hand, I was summoned by my country whose 
voice I can never hear but with veneration and love, 
from a retreat which I had chosen with the fondest pre- 
deliction, and, in my flattering hopes, with an immutable 
decision, as the asylum of my declining years: a retreat 
which was rendered every day more necessary, as well 
as more dear to me, by the addition of habit to inclination, 
and of frequent interruptions in my health, to the gradual 
waste committed on it by time. On the other hand, the 
magnitude and difficulty of the trust, to which the voice 
of my country called me, being sufficient to awaken in 
the wisest and most experienced of her citizens, a dis¬ 
trustful scrutiny into his qualifications, could not but 
overwhelm with despondence, one, who, inheriting in¬ 
ferior endowments from nature, and unpractised in the 
duties of civil administration, ought to be peculiarly 
conscious of his own deficiencies. In this conflict of 
emotions, all I dare aver, is that it has been my faithful 
study to collect my duty from a just appreciation of 
every circumstance, by which it might be effected. All 


GEORGE WASHINGTON’. 


299 


I dare hope, is that if, in accepting this task, I have been 
too much swayed by a grateful remembrance of former 
instances, or an affectionate sensibility to this transcen¬ 
dent proof of the confidence of my fellow-citizens—and 
have thence too little consulted my incapacity as well as 
disinclination for the weighty and untried cares before 
me—my error will be palliated by the motives which 
mislead me, and its consequences be judged by my coun¬ 
try, with some share of the partiality in which they 
originated. 

Such being the impressions under which I have, in 
obedience to the public summons, repaired to the pre¬ 
sent station—it will be peculiarly improper to omit in 
this first official act, my fervent supplications to that Al¬ 
mighty Being who rules over the universe, who pre¬ 
sides in the councils of nations—and whose providen¬ 
tial aids can supply every human defect, that his bene¬ 
diction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of 
the people of the United States, a government instituted 
by themselves for these essential purposes: and may 
enable every instrument, employed in its administration, 
to execute with success the functions allotted to his 
charge. In tendering this homage to the great Author 
of every public and private good, I assure myself that 
it expresses your sentiments not less than my own, nor 
those of my fellow-citizens at large, less than either. 
No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the 
invisible hand, which conducts the affairs of men, more 
than the people of the United States. Every step, by 
which they have advanced to the character of an inde¬ 
pendent nation, seems to have been distinguished by 
some token of providential agency. And in the import¬ 
ant revolution just accomplished in the system of their 
united government, the tranquil deliberations and volun¬ 
tary consent of so many distinct communities, from 
which the event has resulted, cannot be compared with 
the means by which most governments have been esta¬ 
blished, without some return of pious gratitude, along 
with an humble anticipation of the future blessings 
which the past seem to presage. These reflections, aris¬ 
ing out of the present crisis, have forced themselves too 
strongly on my mind to be suppressed. You will join me, 


300 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


I trust, in thinking, that there are none under the influ¬ 
ence of which the proceedings of a new and free go¬ 
vernment can more auspiciously commence. 

u By the article establishing the executive depart¬ 
ment, it is made the duty of the president “ to recom¬ 
mend to your consideration such measures as he shall 
judge necessary and expedient.” The circumstances 
under which I now meet you, will acquit me from enter¬ 
ing into that subject, farther than to refer to the great 
constitutional charter under which you are now assem¬ 
bled ; and which, in defining your powers, designates 
the objects to which your attention is to be given. It 
will be more consistent with those circumstances, and 
far more congenial with the feelings which actuate me, 
to substitute in place of a recommendation of particular 
measures, the tribute that is due to the talents, the recti¬ 
tude, and the patriotism, which adorn the characters se¬ 
lected to devise and adopt them. In these honourable 
qualifications, I behold the surest pledges, that as, on one 
side, no local prejudices or attachments-no separate views 
-nor party animosities, will mis-directthe comprehensive 
and equal eye which ought to watch over this great as¬ 
semblage of communities and interests: so, on another, 
that the foundations of our national policy will be laid in 
the pure and immutable principles of private morality; 
and the pre-eminence of free government be exempli¬ 
fied by all the attributes which can win the affections of 
its citizens, and command the respect of the world. I 
dwell on this prospect with every satisfaction which an 
ardent love for my country can inspire; since there is 
no truth more thoroughly established, than that there 
exists in the economy and course of nature, an indisso¬ 
luble union between virtue and happiness, between duty 
and advantage, between the genuine maxims of an ho¬ 
nest and magnanimous policy, and the solid rewards of 
public prosperity and felicity : since we ought to be no 
less persuaded, that the propitious smiles of Heaven can 
never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal 
rules of order and right, which Heaven itself hath or¬ 
dained : and since the preservation of the sacred fire of 
liberty, and the destiny of the republican model of go¬ 
vernment, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as fi- 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


301 


nally, staked on the experiment intrusted tti the hands 
of the American people. 

“ Besides the ordinary objects submitted to your care, 
it will remain with your judgment to decide how far an 
exercise of the occasional power delegated by the fifth 
article of the constitution is rendered expedient at the 
present juncture, by the nature of objections which have 
been urged against the system, or by the degree of in¬ 
quietude which has given birth to them. Instead of un¬ 
dertaking particular recommendations on this subject, in 
which I could be guided by no lights derived from offi¬ 
cial opportunities, I shall again give way to my entire 
confidence in your discernment and pursuit of the pub¬ 
lic good : for I assure myself, that whilst you carefully 
avoid every alteration which might endanger the bener 
fits of an united and effective government, or which 
ought to await the future lessons of experience ; a reve¬ 
rence for the characteristic rights of freemen, and a re¬ 
gard for the public harmony, will sufficiently inlluence 
your deliberations on the question, how far the former 
can be more impregnably fortified, or the latter be safely 
and advantageously promoted. 

“ To the preceding observations, I have one to add, 
which will be most properly addressed to the House of 
Representatives. It concerns myself, and therefore will 
be as brief as possible. When I was first honoured v'ith 
axall into the service of my country, then on the eve of 
an arduous struggle for its liberties, the light in which I 
contemplated my duty, required that I should renounce 
every pecuniary compensation. From this resolution I 
have in no instance departed. And being still under the 
impressions which produced it, I must decline, as inap¬ 
plicable to myself, any share in the personal emoluments, 
which may be indispensably included in a permanent 
provision for the executive department; and must accord¬ 
ingly pray that the pecuniary estimates for the station in 
which I am placed, may, during my continuance in it, be 
limited to such actual expenditures as the public good 
may be thought to require. 

“ Having thus imparted to you my sentiments, as 
they have been awakened by the occasion which brings 
us together, I shall take my present leave ; but not with- 
Vol. ii. *2 D . 


302 BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OP 

out resorting once more to the benign Parent of the hu¬ 
man race, in humble supplication, that since he has been 
pleased to favour the American people, with opportuni¬ 
ties for deliberating in perfect tranquillity, and disposi¬ 
tions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a forth 
of government, for the security of their union, and the 
advancement of their happiness; so his divine blessing 
may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the 
temperate consultations, and the wise measures, on which 
the success of this government must depend. 

G. Washington.'* 


The first session of Congress, under the new consti¬ 
tution, continued their sittings from the 4th of March 
until the 29th of September: their attention was chiefly 
directed towards the establishment of various regula¬ 
tions for the restoration of the public credit of the Unit¬ 
ed States, and other objects of political economy. Dur¬ 
ing the period of the session, the President resided at 
New-York, sanctioning the proceedings of the legisla¬ 
ture, and otherwise organizing the federal government. 
Shortly after the rising of Congress, he made a tour to 
the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New- 
Hampshire, attended by Mr. Lear and Major Jackson, his 
secretaries. In every part of the country through which 
he passed, the citizens embraced the opportunity of per¬ 
sonally testifying their esteem and respect of the man of 
their choice , in whose character, whatever is great and 
good—whatever dignifies and adorns human nature, are 
so happily united. All that a grateful people could pay, 
was paid; whenever he approached a town or village, 
the roads were lined with citizens to hail him welcome 
—the military escorted him from place to place. Partic¬ 
ularly to relate all the grateful testimonials which were 
paid him during this visit, is impossible, from their num¬ 
ber. If our limits would permit, a description of the 
manner in which he was received at Boston would be 
particularly interesting; nor can we specify the numer¬ 
ous congratulatory addresses which were presented him. 
But no'particular circumstance gave him more pleasure, 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 303 

during his whole tour, than the plain and hearty manner 
in which Mr. Northey, the chairman of the selectmen at 
Salem, received him. This gentleman is of the society 
of Friends, and when the President was presented to the 
selectmen, Mr. Northey, being covered, took him by 
tiie hand, and said, “ Friend Washington, we are glad 
to see thee, amt in behalf of the inhabitants, bid thee a 
hearty welcome to Salem.” 

On his arrival at Newburyport, the following incident 
occurred : a poor old soldier named Cotton, who was with 
him in the memorable battle on the Ohio, when Brad- 
dock was defeated, requested and was admitted into the 
room where the President was,—on the soldier’s asking 
<l how Major Washington did ?” the President immedi¬ 
ately recollected his person, and rising from his chair, 
took him by the hand, and tenderly enquired into the 
scenes of his life, aud present circumstances. “ I thank 
God,” answered the soldier, “ that I have an opportunity 
of seeing my old commander once more, I have seen him 
in adversity, and now seeing him in glory, I can go home 
and die contented.” The next morning, he came again 
to take leave of the President, who gave him a guinea, 
which he accepted he said, “ merely as a token in re¬ 
membrance of his commander,” and which he wore pen¬ 
dent on his bosom, declaring that nothing earthly should 
separate it from him. 

While General Washington was President of the 
United States, the following circumstance, which docs 
honour to his humanity, occurred. One Reuben Rouzy, 
of Virginia, owed him about a thousand pounds; one of 
the President’s agents brought a suit for the money, 
judgment was obtained, and execution issued against the 
body of the defendant, who was taken to gaol. He had 
a considerable landed property, but this kind of property 
cannot be sold in Virginia for debts, unless at the dis¬ 
cretion of the person. He had a large family, and pre¬ 
ferred lying in gaol to selling his land, for the sake of 
his children.—Some of his acquaintance hinted to him, 
that probably General Washington did not know any 
thing of the proceeding, and it might be well to send 
him a petition, with a statement of the circumstances. 
He did so, and the very next post from Philadelphia, 


304 BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 

after his petition arrived, brought him a releasemeht, 
with a severe reprimand on the agent for acting in such 
a cruel manner, without consent. Poor Rouzy was, in 
consequence, restored to his family and happiness, who 
never laid down their heads at night, without offering 
their prayers toHeavcn for our much beloved Washing¬ 
ton. 

On the 4th day of January, 1790, Congress held their 
second session at New-York. The President opened it 
with a speech ; he congratulated them on the favourable 
prospects which the public affairs then assumed; the 
accession of the state of North-Carolina to the Union, 
the rising credit and respectability of the country, and 
the concord, peace and plenty with which they were 
blessed ; he directed their attention towards the making 
provision for the common defence, assuring them that 
“ to be prepared for war, is one of the most effectual 
means of preserving peace, and that a free people ought 
not only to be armed but disciplined he recommended 
the protection of the Western and Southern frontiers 
against the depredations of the hostile Indians ; the es¬ 
tablishment of intercourse with other nations ; the fra¬ 
ming of an uniform law for the naturalization of foreign¬ 
ers ; the importance of uniformity in the currency, 
weights and measures throughout the Union; the ad¬ 
vancement of agriculture, commerce, and manufactures; 
tl'ie encouragement of exertions of skill, and genius, 
and to facilitate the intercourse between the distant parts 
of the country, by a due attention to the post office and 
post-roads. He particularly recommended the promo¬ 
tion of science and literature, as the surest basis of pub¬ 
lic happiness, and best means of securing a free constitu¬ 
tion, by teaching the people to know and to value their 
rights, to discern and provide against innovations of them, 
to distinguish between oppression and the necessary 
exercise of lawful authority, to discriminate the spirit 
of liberty from that of licentiousness, cherishing the first, 
avoiding the last, and uniting a speedy but temperate 
vigilance against encroachments, with an inviolable 
respect to the laws. He informed them that he had di¬ 
rected the papers and estimates to be laid before them, 
which were necessary to convey to them that informa- 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


305 


tion of the state of the Union, which it was his dutv to 
afford. He concluded by assuring them, that “ He 
should derive great satisfaction, from a co-operation with 
them, in 4 the pleasing, though arduous task, of ensuring to 
their fellow-citizens the blessings which they have aright 
to expect from a free, efficient, and equal government.” 

Their session continued their sittings until the 12th 
of August following ; in that month the President nego- 
ciated a treaty of peace and friendship between the Unit¬ 
ed States and the Creek nation of Indians ; the ceremony 
took place at New-York, on the 30th of September. The 
same year General Harmer, with 320 United States 
troops and 1133 militia, gave battle to the Miami Indians, 
by whom he was defeated with the loss of 183 men kill¬ 
ed, and 31 wounded; about 100 or upwards of the In¬ 
dians were killed. The Miami village, containing about 
100 log houses, or wigwams, with 20,000 bushels of 
corn, was destroyed. 

The third session of Congress met on the 6th of De¬ 
cember, 1790, and rose on the 3d of March following; 
their deliberations were chiefly directed towards the re¬ 
gulation of commerce, further improvement of the judi¬ 
cial system, and making provision for the appointment of 
consuls in foreign countries. The state of Kentucky 
was admitted into the union as a distinct state, and a loan 
was negociated with the States of Holland. 

The Indian war continued on the frontier of the states. 
During the summer of 1791, General Scott surprised the 
Wabash towns; he killed about 30 Indians, took 50 pris¬ 
oners, and brought with him 200 horses, loaded with 
peltry and other articles of plunder, with the loss of three 
men only. The attention of the President during the 
period of this Congress, was chiefly directed towards 
the adoption of measures for the protection of the fron¬ 
tiers, and establishment of commerce. 

On the 24th of October, 1791, the second Congress 
commenced their first session; the President, as usual* 
opened the session by a speech to both houses; he began 
by remarking the abundance of the preceding harvest, 
the progressive state of agriculture, manufactures, com¬ 
merce and navigation, and the general and happy effects 
which had been produced by the revival of public and 

2 D 2 


306 


biographical memoirs of 


private confidence, to which the laws of the United 
States had so eminently contributed. He mentioned the 
plan laid down for conciliating the friendship of the 
Indians; the basis of which was a strict adherence to 
the dictates of justice and humanity. The act for laying 
a duty on distilled spirits, had been, he said, attended 
with some difficulty, from the want of experience in the 
federal government, to make the proper arrangements, 
and, in some parts of the union, there had been a mis¬ 
conception of its provisions; but he entertained no doubt 
that the discontent produced from it would be removed 
by a proper explanation of the law. The President next 
observed, that, agreeable to several acts on that subject, 
a district of ten miles square, for the permanent seat of 
the government of the United States, had been fixed 
upon, and announced by proclamation; that the district 
comprehended lands on both sides of the Potowmac, and 
the towns of Alexandria and George-town; that a city 
had accordingly been laid out, and that there was every 
reason to expect a due progress in the buildings. He 
also informed the two houses that a census of the inhab¬ 
itants of the United States, had been almost completed, 
and afforded the pleasing assurance that the present 
population bordered upon four millions of persons; that 
a further loan of two millions and an half of florins had 
been completed in Holland, upon terms similar to the 
last, and that another loan for six millions of florins had 
been set on foot. He concluded by recommending to 
their particular attention, Che supporting of the militia 
on an effective plan ; the administration of the post-office, 
the extention and improvement of the post-roads, the 
necessity for a public mint, an uniformity of weights and 
measures, and a provision for the sale of the vacant lands 
of the United States. 

This session continued their deliberations, until the 
8th of May, 1792, when they adjourned till the first 
Monday of November following. During their session 
and adjournment, there was no remarkable or important 
event: a series of massacres, were, as formerly, com¬ 
mitted on the frontiers; the hopes expressed by the 
President, of being able to accommodate the disputes 
with the Indians, did not prove successful. On the 4th 
oi November, 1791, the United- States army, under the 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


307 


command of General St. Clair, was attacked by surprise, 
within fifteen miles of the Miami village; the contest 
lasted four hours, when the Indians became victorious, 
the retreat of the Americans was accomplished with the 
loss of 46 officers, and 600 privates, killed ; 21 commis¬ 
sioned officers, and 242 non-commissioned officers and 
privates, wounded, and eight pieces of artillery and 
their whole baggage taken. In this battle it is said, that 
1200 Canadians fought under the disguise of Indians. 
The attention of the Executive, during this period, was 
also engaged in devising modes to reconcile the citizens, 
in some districts of the union, to the law, enacted for 
the purpose of collecting a certain duty on spirits, dis¬ 
tilled within the United States, in some of the states, 
particularly the western parts of Pennsylvania, where a 
regular and formidable opposition began to manifest it¬ 
self, in consequence of which, the special interposition 
of the President was deemed advisable. He issued a 
proclamation, recommending a compliance with the laws, 
and warning the citizens against unlawful proceedings 
and combinations, having a tendency to obstruct the same. 

The second Congress met again in November, 179^. 
The President opened the session with a speech, the 
greatest part of which respected the unfortunate en¬ 
deavours to terminate the Indian hostilities. He informed 
Congress of the opposition which had been manifested 
to the excise law, and recommended a revision of the ju¬ 
diciary system. He further observed, that three loans 
had been ncgociated for the use of the United States, 
one at Antwerp, and two at Amsterdam, each for three 
millions of florins, on very reasonable terms, which af¬ 
forded a pleasing evidence of the increasing credit of the 
new government. On the 2d of March, 1793, this ses¬ 
sion adjourned. 

Heretofore the prosperity of the United States met 
with little or no interruption, except from the hostility of~ 
the Indians. The attention of the Executive was chiefly 
directed to the establishment of those measures which 
the organization of the infant republic rendered neces¬ 
sary. The extension of commerce, and the disputes of 
the European powers, rendered it necessary for the 
United States to send and receive ministers and agents, 
for the better regulation of affairs. 


SOS BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 

This necessary measure created troubles and perplex¬ 
ities hitherto unknown to the Executive of the United 
States. On the 8th of April, 1793, citizen Genet arrived 
at Charleston, as minister plenipotentiary from the ex¬ 
ecutive of France to the President of the United States. 
On the 22d of the same month, the President issued a 
proclamation, enjoining the citizens of the United States 
to a strict neutrality, in the contest between the mari¬ 
time powers, and threatening prosecution to all who 
should infringe the same. The public approbation of this 
wise measure, for the preservation of the public tranquil¬ 
lity, was manifested in numerous addresses to the Presi¬ 
dent, thanking him in warm terms for his attention to 
the interest of the citizens; many, however, were of¬ 
fended at the measure, as they conceived that it implied 
a deficiency of respect and gratitude to the republic of 
France, to whom the United States were highly indebt¬ 
ed for their independence. Genet arrived in Philadel¬ 
phia, the seat of government, on the 17th of May. The 
conduct of this minister is, perhaps, unexampled in di¬ 
plomatic history. It was not until the publication of the 
proclamation of the President, enjoining neutrality, that 
the government first heard of his arrival, and even then, 
they were only informed through the medium of the 
newspapers, about a fortnight after his arrival; instead of 
presenting his credentials to the President, he began to 
assume a conduct imprudent and unbecoming ; he un¬ 
dertook to authorize the fitting out of armed vessels ; he 
enlisted citizens and others, and gave commissions to 
cruise and commit hostilities against the vessels of Eng¬ 
land and other nations at war with France, but who were, 
at the same time, at peace with the United States. These 
vessels had actually tai^en prizes, brought them into 
American ports, where the consuls of France held courts 
of admiralty, tried, condemned, and authorized their sale 
as legal prizes. These proceedings, in opposition to the 
peace of the United States, were instantly complained of 
by Mr. Hammond, the British minister; thus were the 
seeds of future controversy planted. The government 
of the United States interfered, and, in some cases, over¬ 
ruled the proceedings of both the British and French, as 
illegal; remonstrances were exhibited to the President* 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


309 


from both sides, which created a series of diplomatic 
correspondence. A new source of discontent, on the part 
of the French, now arose; Genet demanded, with some 
abruptness, money from the treasury of the United 
States, in part payment of their debt to France, with 
which the American government found it inconvenient 
to comply. This state of diplomatic hostility could not 
be expected to hold out long without coming to a crisis. 
Accordingly, on the 16th of August, the President or¬ 
dered Mr. Jefferson, the secretary of state, to address a 
letter to Mr. Morris, the American ambassador in France, 
soliciting the republic to recal their minister. In the 
mean time Citizen Duplaine, vice-consul for the repub¬ 
lic of France, in the port of Boston, having committed 
sundry encroachments on the laws of the United States, 
the President, in consequence thereof, suspended his 
powers. 

The term for which General Washington was elected 
President having expired, he was again re-elected to the 
same office. On the 2d of December, 1793, the third 
Congress commenced their first session. The President, 
in his speech to both houses, expressed a respectful 
sense of the confidence that he enjoyed, in being again 
called,by the suffrage of his fellow-citizens, to the office 
of chief magistrate. He recited the measures which he 
had adopted to avoid a rupture with any of the powers at 
war, and to ensure to the citizens of the United States 
the rights of neutrality. He further recommended to 
Congress, the necessity of placing the country in a 
state of defence ; that while the United States fulfilled 
their duties to the rest- of the world, they may likewise 
exact the fulfilment of the like duties towards them. He 
informed them of the means which had been pursued for 
conciliating the dispositions of the Indians, and recom¬ 
mended to Congress to make provision for the establish¬ 
ment of commerce with the Indian nations, as the 
best means of securing their interest, and rendering 
their tranquillity permanent; he concluded by recom¬ 
mending a repeal of the tax on the transportation of 
public prints, as they contained the best means of in¬ 
forming the minds, and securing the affections of their 
constituents ;—he afterwards, by a special message, in- 


310 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OP 


formed the House of Representatives, “ that although 
the government of the French nation had generally ma¬ 
nifested a friendly disposition to the United States, yet 
the person unfortunately appointed their minister pleni¬ 
potentiary, had breathed nothing of the friendly disposi¬ 
tion of the nation which sent him; his proceedings had 
uniformly tended to involve us in war abroad, and dis¬ 
cord and anarchy at home.” He hoped that the French 
government would not long suffer the United States to 
remain exposed to the action of a person, who had so 
little respected the mutual dispositions of the two 
countries. 

Soon after this period, this minister was recalled, his 
conduct having been unequivocally disapproved of. About 
this period the commerce of the United States began to 
suffer greatly, from the depredations of the British, un¬ 
der pretence of their being loaded with French property ; 
it also suffered from the piracy of privateers, who, for 
the most part, disclaiming justice altogether, seized 
both vessels and cargo, and disposed of the same for 
their ow v n use ; a considerable number of American ves¬ 
sels were likewise captured in the Western Ocean by 
the Algerine corsairs. These subjects were assumed by 
Congress, and many modes were proposed for the pur¬ 
pose of putting a stop to the unwarrantable excesses. A 
bill was passed, to provide a naval armament against the 
Algerines. On the 25th of March, a motion was made 
in the House of Representatives, assented to by the Se¬ 
nate, and signed by the President, laying an embargo for 
30 days on all vessels bound to foreign ports; this em¬ 
bargo was afterwards continued until the 25th of May. 
The President was empowered to raise an additional 
corps of artillery-men, for the purpose of garrisoning 
the fortifications for the defence of the sea-coasts; he 
was also authorized to call on the executives of the dif¬ 
ferent states, to take effectual measures for organizing- 
80,000 effective militia. 

On the 19th of May, intelligence was received from 
the territory N. W. of the river Ohio, stating the hard¬ 
ships which the citizens of that territory sustained from 
the hostile disposition of the Cherokee Indians; the 
massacre of 200 people, and the loss of 2000 horses, 


GEORGE WASHINGTON*. 


:u 

formed a part of the list of their disasters. On the 20th 
of May, the president by a message, informed the House 
of Representatives, that there had been some danger of 
hostilities against the territories of Spain, in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of the United States; that the governor of 
Kentucky had indicated that he would make no exertions 
to prevent the expulsion of the Spaniards from the banks 
of the Mississippi, as he had found them a perfidious and 
worthless people, constantly exciting the Indians to mur¬ 
der the settlers in that quarter. 

During this session of Congress, many important laws 
wfcre enacted. The act assigning to the marquis de la 
Fayette, the sum of 24,424 dollars, for his services du¬ 
ring the war, being the pay of a major-general: and the 
act forbidding American citizens, or foreigners, residing 
in the United States, under severe penalties, from being 
concerned in the slave trade, does great honour to the 
legislature. On the 9th of June, 1794, this session ad¬ 
journed. 

In 1794, during the recess of Congress, the attention 
of the President of the United States was called to sup¬ 
press an insurrection, which began to assume a very 
formidable aspect. It was confined to the western parts 
of the state of Pennsylvania, The outlines of it are fol¬ 
low, viz. During the year 1790, the Congress of the 
United States found it necessary “ to lay and collect 
excises/* This mode of taxation, discordant to the gen¬ 
ius of the citizens, in many parts of the union, met with 
considerable opposition, which, however, was gradually 
banished by reason and patriotism, excepting the four 
western counties of Pennsylvania, where a prejudice still 
remained, and produced symptoms of riot and violence. 
The disaffection was at first vented in general complaints; 
certain associations were formed to prevent the opera¬ 
tion of the laws, and the excise officers received some 
marks of contempt and rudeness. These associations 
held public meetings, and published their resolutions. 
Resides the excise law, they censured several other acts 
of the federal government; as the exorbitant salaries of 
office, the institution of a national bank, the interest of 
the public debt, &x. 

On the 6th of September, 1791, the collector of the 


312 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


Revenue for that district was seized by a party, armed, 
and in disguise; they tarred and feathered him, cut off 
his hair, and committed other acts of violence; legal 
process was therefore issued against the offenders, but 
the insurgents prevented the marshal from serving them ; 
they firecl upon him, arrested, and, for some time, detain¬ 
ed him as a prisoner; a number of similar outrages were 
committed. The President, the ever watchful guardian 
of the constitution, beheld, with sorrow, these excesses; 
he sought and weighed what was best to be done in this 
momentous crisis; he beheld the judiciary stripped of 
its capacity to enforce the laws, and crimes, which reach¬ 
ed to the very existence of social order, perpetrated 
without control; the friends of government insulted, and 
that constitution violated, which he had made a sacred 
vow to protect; he beheld with abhorrence the idea of 
* arraying citizen against citizen,” until every lenient 
measure should be exhausted. He issued proclamations, 
exhorting the rioters to desist from such disorderly pro¬ 
ceedings; he recommended obedience to the laws; he 
appointed commissioners to repair to the scene of insur¬ 
rection, authorized them to confer with the insurgents, 
to state to them his sensations, to assure them that it 
was his earnest wish to avoid a resort to coercion; he 
even offered them pardon, on condition of receiving sa¬ 
tisfactory assurance of obedience to the laws. 

These lenient measures did not produce the good ef¬ 
fects that should have been expected. The President 

therefore deemed it prudent to resort to military force_ 

Fifteen thousand militia were put in motion, their num¬ 
ber intimidated the insurgents: thus the insurrection 
-was quelled without the effusion of blood; some of the 
ringleaders were apprehended and brought to trial; one 
of them was found guilty of high treason and condemned 
to suffer, but was pardoned by the President.—Indeed, 
the same goodness of disposition actuated the President, 
from the beginning to the termination of this licentious 
invasion of the laws, notwithstanding there are in the 
United States, certain discontented, invidious individuals, 
who wish to stigmatize every act of the Executive with 
opprobium. 

In November, 1794, the third Congress held their 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


O 1 J 

O I 0 

second session, at Philadelphia. The President began 
his speech with a history of the opposition which had 
been manifested to the constitution and laws of the 
United States, and of the means which he had pursued 
to suppress it; the alacrity which the militia, and others 
who volunteered their service displayed, exhibited, he 
said, “ to the highest advantage, the value of republican 
government; to behold the most and least wealthy of 
our citizens, standing in the same ranks as private sol¬ 
diers, pre-eminently distinguished by being the army of 
the constitution; undeterred by a march of three hun¬ 
dred miles, over rugged mountains, by the approach of 
an inclement season, or by any other discouragement.’* 
He recommended to Congress to rc-imburse the officers 
of government and other citizens, who had sustained 
losses, for their generous exertions in upholding the 
constitution and laws; “ the amount,” he said, “ would 
not be great; and on future emergencies, the govern¬ 
ment would be amply repaid by the influence of an ex¬ 
ample, that he who incurs a loss in its defence, shall find 
a recompense in its liberality. The intelligence from the 
army of General Wayne, acting against the hostile In¬ 
dians N. W. of the Ohio, he said, afforded a happy pre ¬ 
sage to the military operations, that they had damped the 
ardour and obstinacy of the savages.—Yet although the 
power of the United States to punish them, could not 
be questioned, that he was not unwilling to cement a 
lasting peace, upon terms of equity and good neigh¬ 
bourhood ; he recommended the adoption of a definitive 
plan for the redemption of the public debt, and in sub¬ 
sequent communications he transmitted to them, certain 
papers relative to the intercourse of the United States 
with foreign nations; (they announced to Congress and 
to the world, his unremitting exertions to cultivate peace 
with all the world,) to observe treaties with good faith, 
to check deviations from the line of impartiality, and to 
explain and correct what was misapprehended or appear¬ 
ed injurious. 

Ever since the formal ratification of the treaties of 
peace between the United States and Great-Britain, nu¬ 
merous causes of complaint has existed on the part of 
both countries respecting its fulfilment. The history of 
Vol. ii. 2 E 


314 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


the nature, progress, and final termination of these dis¬ 
putes, will form a very interesting part in the history 
of the political and diplomatic character of President 
Washington ; but the bounds which we have assigned to 
the present sketch, prevents us from entering fully upon 
the subject: The ground of complaint on both sides, was 
disputed in 1792, in a correspondence between Mr. Jef¬ 
ferson, secretary of state, and Mr. Hammond, the envoy 
of Britain ; in their letters, the reciprocal complaints are 
stated with candour, perspicuity and completeness; to 
support their respective arguments, they bring forward 
on each side, a large body of illustrations and authori¬ 
ties, which are highly interesting. This correspondence 
was published by Congress in 1794. The arguments of 
Mr. Jefferson appeared to have contained unanswerable 
weight, as no reply or explanation were ever made to 
them, although requested by him.—Affairs remained in 
this state of suspense until June 1793, when the British, 
in consequence of their hostilities with France, issued 
orders to the commanders of their vessels, to stop all 
neutral vessels carrying provisions to any port in that re¬ 
public ; ships attempting to enter any French port, block¬ 
aded by the English, were to be condemned, both vessel 
and cargo, whatever it may consist of: the order con¬ 
tained a limited exception in favour of Denmark and 
Sweden, but in the execution of it, the rights of Ameri¬ 
ca were entirely disregarded. This matter produced a 
diplomatic discussion between the ministers of the two 
countries, both at London and Philadelphia: Their cor¬ 
respondence produced a mutual wish on both sides to 
establish a treaty of commerce, and a friendly adjustment 
of all complaints. The President of the United States, 
accordingly nominated Mr. John Jay, chief justice of the 
United States, as an envoy extraordinary to the court of 
London. After a short passage, Mr. Jay arrived in Lon¬ 
don, where he met with a polite reception, and negociated 
the Treaty of Peace , Commerce and Navigation . 

The Treaty arrived in Philadelphia in March 1795 ; 
it was shortly after submitted to the Senate for their con¬ 
sent ; they returned it to the President on the 24th of 
June, and advised the conditional ratification thereof. 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


3:5 


About the 30th of the same month it was submitted to 
the public through the medium of the news-papers. It 
now became the general topic of conversation; it was 
placed in all the different points of view of which it was 
susceptible, and in many of which it could not admit. 

It met with great opposition : addresses and resolutions 
were received from all the commercial towns of the 


union; some advising its ratification, others disapproving 
of it in toto. This opposition was viewed by the Presi¬ 
dent in a very serious light; he considered the subject 
and weighed all the arguments which had been advanced 
against it; his own opinion was not in favour it, but he 
did not wish to differ from the Senate, and thought that 
it would be better to ratify it in the manner they had ad¬ 
vised; to this measure he was also induced, as Mr. Jay 
had asserted “ that no better terms could possibly be ob¬ 
tained ; and that obstinacy in rejecting the settlement, 
might be serious.” The President therefore assented, 
and ratifications were exchanged, with the suspension 
of the most objectionable article. 

1 his transaction is perhaps the most unfortunate that 
occurred to his Excellency during the whole period of 
his Presidency. Those opposed to the treaty did not 
^d'that could impress upon' the minds of the citizens 
gross falsehoods; such as, that the treaty contained no 
reciprocal advantages, that the benefits were all on the 
side of Britain ; that their rights were not only neglected, 
but absolutely sold ; that it was made with the design of 
oppressing the French, and contrary to every principle 
of gratitude and sound policy. 

The first session of the fourth Congress met at Phila¬ 
delphia, in December, 1795. The President in a speech 
informed them that negociations were on foot for the 
adjustment of affairs with the hostile Indians, and also 
with the Dey and Regency of Algiers; that he had re¬ 
ceived assurances of a speedy and satisfactory conclusion 
of the negociations with Spain; that with the advice of 
the Senate he had ratified a treaty with Britain, upon a 
condition which excepts part of one article. He recom¬ 
mended a review of the military establishment, and to 
make provision for garrisoning and securing the western 


316 


BIOGRAPHICA-L MEMOIRS OF 


posts which were to be delivered up by the British. He 
informed them that a state of the finance and appropria¬ 
tions necessary for the ensuing- year would be laid before 
them, as also statements relative to the mint, progress 
in providing materials for building frigates, state of for¬ 
tifications, and military magazines, See. He concluded 
with a recommendation of temperate discussion and mu¬ 
tual forbearance in subjects where a difference of opinion 
may be apt to arise. 

A warm and lengthy discussion took place in the 
House of Representatives relative to the British treaty. 
Both sides of the question were ably supported; few 
subjects had ever come before the House, upon which 
so many members delivered their sentiments. On the 
24th of March, 1796, they came to a resolution, request¬ 
ing the President to lay before the House, a copy of the 
instructions to Mr. Jay, together with his correspond¬ 
ence and other documents relative to that treaty. To 
this request the President gave a positive refusal; he 
assured the House, that he had always endeavoured to 
harmonize with the other branches of the government, 
and that he had never withheld any information which 
the constitution enjoined him to give. But that the na- 

before the Senate; that the constitution empowered him 
to make treaties with the consent of that body, but that 
it would establish a dangerous precedent to admit a right 
in the House of Representatives to demand and have all 
papers respecting negociations with foreign powers, af¬ 
ter the treaties were finally concluded and ratified, and 
the assent of that house not necessary to their validity. 

We deem it unnecessary to enter into a history of the 
differences which took place with the republic of France, 
as they are so recent as to be generally remembered; 
suffice it to observe, that during the whole period in 
which General Washington sat at the helm of public 
affairs, his whole conduct uniformly exhibited modera¬ 
tion and prudence, magnanimity and firmness, wisdom 
and virtue. 

The period of General Washington’s second election 
to the office of Chief Magistrate being nearly expired, 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


ai7 

he put on a determined resolution to retire from public, 
affairs, and enjoy his declining years in private life. Upon 
this momentous occasion, resigning a charge which he 
at first accepted through his enthusiasm for the princi¬ 
ples of rational liberty , he was impressed with the purest 
wishes for the future happiness of that republic, which 
he had devoted the early, the mature, and a portion of 
his declining years to establish. And as a testimony of 
pure regard, he published the following masterly ad¬ 
dress to his fellow-citizens. 


VALEDICTORY ADDRESS 

Of his Excellency George Washington, Esq. Pres¬ 
ident of the United States , announcing his intention 
of retiring from all public employment . 

TO THE PEOPLE OF TriE UNITED STATES. 

Friends and Fellow-Citizens , 

The period for a new election of a citizen to adminis¬ 
ter the executive government of the United States, be¬ 
ing not far distant, and the time actually arrived, when 
your thoughts must be employed in designating the per¬ 
son who is to be clothed with that important trust, it ap¬ 
pears to me proper, especially as it may conduce to a 
more distinct expression of the public voice, that I 
should now apprise you of the resolution I have formed, 
to decline being considered among the number of those 
out of whom a choice is to be made. 

I beg you, at the same time, to do me the justice to 
be assured, that this resolution has not been taken with¬ 
out a strict regard to all the considerations appertaining 
to the relation, which binds a dutiful citizen to his coun¬ 
try; and that, in withdrawing the tender of service which 
silence in my situation might imply, I am influenced by 
no diminution of zeal for your future interest; no defi¬ 
ciency of grateful respect for your past kindness; but 
am supported by a full conviction that the step is com¬ 
patible with both. 


o F 2 

V JwJ -W 


318 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


The acceptance of, and continuance hitherto in the 
office to which your suffrages have twice called me, have 
been a uniform sacrifice of inclination to the opinion of 
duty, and to a deference for what appeared to be your 
desire. I constantly hoped, that it would have been much 
earlier in my power, consistently with motives which I 
was not at liberty to disregard, to return to that retire¬ 
ment, from which I had been reluctantly drawn. The 
strength of my inclination to do this, previous to the 
last election, had even led to the preparation of an ad¬ 
dress to declare it to you ; but mature reflection on the 
then perplexed and critical posture of our affairs with 
foreign nations, and the unanimous advice of persons 
entitled to my confidence, impelled me to abandon the 
idea. 

I rejoice, that the state of your concerns, external as 
well as internal, no longer renders the pursuit of incli¬ 
nation incompatible with the sentiment of duty, or pro¬ 
priety ; and am persuaded, whatever partiality may be 
retained for my services, that in the present circum¬ 
stances of our country, you will not disapprove my de¬ 
termination to retire. 

The impressions with which I first undertook the ar¬ 
duous trust, w'ere explained on the proper occasion. In 
the discharge of this trust, I will only say, that I have 
with good intentions, contributed towards the organiza¬ 
tion and administration of the government, the best ex¬ 
ertions of which a very fallible judgment was capable. 
Not unconscious, in the outset, of the inferiority of my 
qualifications, experience, in my own eyes, perhaps still 
more in the eyes of others, has strengthened the mo¬ 
tives to diffidence of myself; and every day the increas¬ 
ing- weight of years admonishes me more and more, that 
the shade of retirement is as necessary to me, as it will 
be welcome. Satisfied that if any circumstance have 
given peculiar value to my services, they were tempo¬ 
rary ; I have the consolation to believe, that while choice 
and prudence invite me to quit the political scene, pa¬ 
triotism does not forbid it. 

In looking forward to the moment which is to termi¬ 
nate the career of my political life, my feelings do not 
permit me to suspend the deep acknowledgment of that 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


319 


debt of gratitude which I owe to my beloved country, for 
the many honours it has conferred upon me; still more 
for the steadfast confidence with which it has supported 
me ; and for the opportunities I have thence enjoyed of 
manifesting my inviolable attachment, by services faith¬ 
ful and persevering, though in usefulness unequal to my 
zeal. If benefits have resulted to our country from these 
services, let it always be remembered to your praise, as 
an instructive example in our annals, that under circum¬ 
stances in which the passions, agitated in every direc¬ 
tion, were liable to mislead, amidst appearances some¬ 
times dubious, vicissitudes of fortune often discourag¬ 
ing, in situations in which not unfrequently want of suc¬ 
cess has countenanced the spirit of criticism, the con¬ 
stancy of your support was the essential prop of the ef¬ 
forts, and a guarantee of the plans by which they were 
effected.—Profoundly penetrated with this idea, I shall 
carry it with me to my grave, as a strong incitement to 
unceasing vows, that Heaven may continue to you the 
choicest tokens of its beneficence; that your union and 
brotherly affection may be perpetual ; that the free con¬ 
stitution, which is the work of your hands, may be sa¬ 
credly maintained; that its administration in every de¬ 
partment may be stamped with wisdom and virtue; that, 
in fine, the happiness of the people of these states, un¬ 
der the auspices of liberty, may be made complete, by 
so careful a preservation, and so prudent a use of this 
blessing, as will acquire to them the glory of recom¬ 
mending it to the applause, the affection, and adoption of 
every nation which is yet a stranger to it. 

Here, perhaps, I ought to stop. But a solicitude for 
your welfare, which cannot end but with my life, and the 
apprehension of danger, natural to that solicitude, urge 
me on an occasion like the present, to offer to your so¬ 
lemn contemplations, and to recommend to your fre¬ 
quent review, some sentiments, which are the result of 
much reflection, of no inconsiderable observation, and 
which appear to me all-important to the permanency of 
your felicity as a people. These will be offered to you 
with the more freedom, as you can only see in them the 
disinterested warnings of a parting friend, who can pos¬ 
sibly have no personal motive to bias his counsel. Nor 


320 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


can I forget, as an encouragement to it, your indulgent 
reception of my sentiments on a former and not dissimi¬ 
lar occasion. 

Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every liga- 
ment of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is ne¬ 
cessary to fortify or confirm the attachment. 

The unity of government which constitutes you one 
people, is also now dear to you. It is justly so; for it 
is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, 
the support of your tranquillity at home, your peace 
abroad ; of your safety, and your prosperity; of that 
very liberty which you so highly prize. But as it is easy 
to foresee, that from different causes, and from different 
quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices em¬ 
ployed to weaken in your minds the conviction of this 
truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against 
which the batteries of internal and external enemies will 
be most constantly and actively (though often covertly 
and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment, that 
you should properly estimate the immense value of your 
national union, to your collective and individual happi¬ 
ness ; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual and 
immoveable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves 
to think and speak of it as of the palladium of your po¬ 
litical safety and prosperity ; watching for its preserva¬ 
tion with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever 
may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be 
abandoned: and indignantly frowning upon the first 
dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our 
country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties 
which now link together the various parts. 

For this you have every inducement of sympathy and 
interest. Citizens by birth or choice, of a common coun¬ 
try, that country has a right to concentrate your affec¬ 
tions. The name of American , which belongs to you, 
in your national capacity, must always exalt the just 
pride of patriotism, more than any appellation derived 
irom local discriminations. With slight shades of dif¬ 
ference, you have the same religion, manners, habits 
and political principles. You have in a common cause 
fought and triumphed together: the independence and 
liberty you possess are the work of joint councils and joint 
efforts, of common dangers, sufferings and successes. 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


321 


But these considerations, however powerfully they 
address themselves to your sensibility, are greatly out¬ 
weighed by those which apply more immediately to your 
interest. Here every portion of our country finds tl*e 
most commanding motives for carefully guarding and 
preserving the union of the whole. 

The North, in an unrestrained intercourse with the 
South, protected by the equal laws of a common govern¬ 
ment, finds in the productions of the latter, great addi¬ 
tional resources of maritime and commercial enterprize 
and precious materials of manufacturing industry. The 
South, in the same intercourse, benefitting by the same 
agency of the North, sees its agriculture grow, and its 
commerce expand. Turning partly into its own channels 
the seamen of the North, it finds its particular naviga¬ 
tion invigorated; and while it contributes in different 
ways, to nourish and increase the general mass of the. 
national navigation, it looks forward to the protection of 
a maritime strength to which itself is unequally adapt¬ 
ed. The East, in a like intercourse with the West, al¬ 
ready finds, and in the progressive improvement of in¬ 
terior communications, by land and water, will more and 

more find a valuable vent for the commodities which it 
— c—.— j — — ^n^ufnrtiivpc ot home The 

' Vest derives from the East, supplies reqm,,u„' to its 
growth and comfort; and what is perhaps of still greater 
consequence, it must of necessity owe the secure enjoy¬ 
ment of indispensable outlets for its own productions to 
the weight, influence, and the future maritime strength 
«t the Atlantic side of the Union, directed by an indis¬ 
soluble community of interest as one nation.— Any other 
tenure by which the West can hold this essential advan- 
tage, whether derived from its own separate strength, or 
from, an opiate and unnatural connection with any for¬ 
eign power must be lntnnsiciy precarious 

While then every part of our country thus feels an 
immediate and particular interest in Union, all the parts 
combined cannot fail to find in the united mass of means 
and efiorts greater strength, greater resource, propor- 
tionably greater security from external danger, a less 
frequent interruption of their peace by foreign nations ; 
and what is of inestimable value, they must derive from 


322 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


Union an exemption from those broils and wars between 
themselves, which so frequently afflict neighbouring 
countries, not tied together by the same government; 
which their own rivalships alone would be sufficient to 
produce, but which opposite foreign alliances, attach¬ 
ments and intrigues would stimulate and embitter._ 

Hence likewise they will avoid the necessity of those 
over-grown military establishments, which under any 
form of government are inauspicious to liberty, and 
which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Re¬ 
publican Liberty ; in this sense, it is that your Union 
ought to be considered as a main prop of your liberty, 
and that the love of the one ought to endear to you the 
preservation of the other 

These considerations speak a persuasive language to 
every reflecting and virtuous mind, and exhibit the con¬ 
tinuance oi the Union as a primary object of patriotic 
desire.- Is there a doubt whether a common government 
can embrace so large a sphere ?—Let experience solve 
it.. To listen to mere speculation in such a case were 
criminal. We are authorized to hope that a proper or¬ 
ganization oi the whole, with the auxiliary agency of 
governments for the respective subdivisions, will afford 

a happy issue,m - *•***•- - --- - 

and full experiment. With such powerful and obvious 

motives to union, affecting all parts of our country, 
while experience shall not have demonstrated its imprac¬ 
ticability, there will always be reason to distrust the pa¬ 
triotism of those, who, in any quarter, may endeavour to 
weaken its bands. 

In contemplating the causes which may disturb our 
union, it occurs as matter of serious concern, that any 
ground should have been furnished for characterising 
parties by Geographical discriminations, u Northern ynd 
•&L7 LlC / A* / lC C\, v\.r* cl iKcsvcrn whence designing 

men may endeavour to excite a belief, that there is a real 
difference of local interests and views. One of the ex¬ 
pedients of party to acquire influence, within particular 
districts, is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of 
other districts. You cannot shield yourselves too much 
against the jealousies and heart-burnings which spring 
from these misrepresentations; they tend to render alien 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


r* <r> 
0^0 

to each other those who ought to be bound together by 
fraternal affection. The inhabitants of our western coun¬ 
try have lately had an useful lesson on this head: they 
have seen, in the negociation by the executive, and in 
the unanimous ratification by the Senate, of the treaty 
with Spain, and in the universal satisfaction at the event, 
throughout the United States, a decisive proof how un¬ 
founded were the suspicions propagated among them, 
of a policy in the general government and in the At¬ 
lantic states, unfriendly to their interests in regard to the 
Afississi/i/ii: they have been witnesses to the formation 
of two treaties, that with Great-Britain and that with 
Spain, which secure to them every thing they could de j 
sire, in respect to our foreign relations, towards confirm¬ 
ing their prosperity. Will it not be their wisdom to rely 
for the preservation of these advantages on the Union 
by which they were procured ? Will they not henceforth 
be deaf to those advisers, if such there are, who would 
sever them from their brethren and connect them with 
aliens ? 

To the efficacy and permanency of your union, a gov¬ 
ernment for the whole is indispensable.—No alliances, 
however strict, between the parts, can be an adequate sub¬ 
stitute ; they must inevitably experience the infractions 
and interruptions which all alliances, in all times, have 
experienced. Sensible of this momentous truth, you 
have improved upon your first essay, by the adoption of 
a constitution of government better calculated than your 
former for an intimate union, and for the efficacious man¬ 
agement of your common concerns. This government, 
the offspring of our own choice, uninfluenced and un¬ 
awed, adopted upon full investigation and mature delib¬ 
eration, completely free in its principles, in the distribu¬ 
tion of its powers, uniting security with energy, and 
containing within itself a provision for its own amend¬ 
ment, has a just claim to your confidence and your sup¬ 
port. Respect for its authority, compliance with its 
laws, acquiescence in its measures, are duties enjoined 
by the fundamental maxims of true Liberty. The basis 
of our political systems is the right of the people to 
make and to alter their constitutions of government; but, 


324 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


the constitution which at any time exists, till changed 
by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is 
sacredly obligatory upon all. The very idea of the power 
and the right of the people to establish government, 
presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the 
established government. 

All obstructions to the execution of the laws, all com¬ 
binations and associations, under whatever plausible char¬ 
acter, with real design to direct, controul, counteract, or 
awe the regular deliberations and action of the constituted 
authorities, are destructive of this fundamental princi¬ 
ple, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize fac¬ 
tion, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to 
put in the place ot the delegated will of the nation, the 
will of party, often a small but artful and enterprising 
minority of the community ; and according to the alter¬ 
nate triumphs of different parties, to make the public 
administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incon¬ 
gruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of con¬ 
sistent and wholesome plans digested by common coun¬ 
cils, and modified by mutual interests. 

However combinations or associations of the above 
description may now and then answer popular ends, they 
are likely in the course of time and things to become 
potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious and unprin¬ 
cipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the 
people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of govern¬ 
ment; destroying afterwards the very engines which 
have lifted them to unjust dominion. 

Towards the preservation of your government, and 
the permanency of your present happy state, it is requi¬ 
site, not only that you steadily discountenance irregular 
oppositions to its acknowledged authority, but also that 
you resist with care the spirit of innovation upon its prin¬ 
ciples however specious the pretexts. One method of 
assault may be to effect in the forms of the constitution 
alterations which will impair the energy of the system, 
and thus to undermine what cannot be directly over¬ 
thrown. In all the changes to which you may be invited, 
remember that time and habit are at least as necessary 
to fix the true character of governments, as of other hu¬ 
man institutions; that experience is the surest standard, 


GEORGE WASHINGTON'. 


325 


bv which to test the real tendency of the existing con¬ 
stitution of a country ; that facility in changes upon the 
credit of mere hypothesis and opinion, exposes to per¬ 
petual change from the endless variety of hypothesis and 
opinion; and remember, especially, that for the efficient 
management of your common interest, in a country so 
extensive as ours, a government of as much vigour as 
is consistent with the perfect security of liberty, is in¬ 
dispensable. Liberty itself will find in such a govern¬ 
ment, with powers properly distributed and adjusted, its 
surest guardian. It is indeed little else than a name, 
where the government is too feeble to withstand the en¬ 
terprises of faction, to confine each member of the so¬ 
ciety within the limits prescribed by the laws, and to 
maintain all in the secure and tranquil enjoyment of the 
rights of person and property. 

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties 
in the state, with particular references to the founding 
them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a 
more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most so¬ 
lemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of 
party, generally. 

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our na¬ 
ture, having its root in the strongest passions of the hu¬ 
man mind. It exists under different shapes in all go¬ 
vernments more or less stifled, controuled, or repressed ; 
but in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest 
rankness, and is truly their worst enemy. 

The alternate domination of one faction over another, 
sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party 
dissention, which in different ages and countries has 
perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a fright¬ 
ful despotism.—Hut this leads at length to a more formal 
and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, 
which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek 
security and repose in the absolute power of an individ¬ 
ual: and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing fac¬ 
tion, more able or more fortunate than his compciitors, 
turns this disposition to the purposes of his own eleva¬ 
tion, on the ruins of public liberty. 

Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind, 
(“which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight) 
Vol. ii. 2 F 


326 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party 
are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise 
people to discourage and restrain it. 

It serves always to distract the public counsels, and 
enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the com¬ 
munity with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms ; 
kindles the animosity of one part against another ; foments 
occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door 
to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facil¬ 
itated access to the government itself through the chan¬ 
nels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of 
one country are subjected to the policy and will of 
another. 

There is an opinion that parties in free countries are 
useful checks upon the administration of the government, 
and serve to keepalive the spirit of liberty. This, within 
certain limits, is probably true ; and in governments of 
a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, 
if not with favour upon the spirit of party. But in those 
of the popular character, in governments purely elective, 
it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural 
tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of 
that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being 
constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force 
of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not 
to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to pre¬ 
vent its bursting into a flame, lest instead of warming, it 
should consume. 

It is important likewise, that the habits of thinking in 
a free country should inspire caution, in those entrusted 
with its administration, to confine themselves within 
their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the 
excercise of the powers of one department to encroach 
upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to con¬ 
solidate the powers of all the departments in one, and 
thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real 
despotism. A just estimate of that love of power, and 
proneness to abuse it, which predominates in the human 
heart, is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this posi¬ 
tion. The necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise 
of political power, by dividing and distributing it into 
different depositories, and constituting each the guar¬ 
dian of the public weal against invasions of the others, 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


327 


has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern : 
some of them in our country and under our own eyes. To 
preserve them must be as necessary as to institute them. 
If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modi¬ 
fication of the constitutional powers be in any particular 
wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in a way 
which the constitution designates. But let there be'no 
change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, 
may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weap¬ 
on by which free governments are destroyed. The pre¬ 
cedent must always greatly overbalance in permanent 
evil, any partial or transient benefit which the use can at 
any time yield. 

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to politi¬ 
cal prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable 
supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of 
patriotism, who should labour to subvert these great pil¬ 
lars of human happiness, these firmest props of the du¬ 
ties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally 
with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish 
them. A volume could not trace all their connexions 
with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, 
where is the security for property, for reputation, for 
life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, 
which are the instruments of investigation in courts of 
justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposi¬ 
tion, that morality can be maintained without religion. 
Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined 
education on minds of peculiar structure ; reason and 
experience both forbid us to expect that national morality 
can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. 

’Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a ne¬ 
cessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed 
extends with more or less force to every species of free 
government. Who that is a sincere friend to it, can look 
with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation 
of the fabric ? 

Promote, then, as an object of primary importance, 
institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In 
proportion as the structure of a government gives force 
to public opinion, it should be enlightened. 

As a very important source of strength and security, 


328 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


cherish public credit. One method of preserving it, is to 
use it as sparingly as possible ; avoiding occasions of ex¬ 
pense by cultivating peace ; but remembering also, that 
timely disbursements to prepare for danger, frequently 
prevent much greater disbursements to repel it; avoid¬ 
ing likewise the accumulation of debt, not only by shun¬ 
ning occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertions in 
time of peace to discharge the debts which unavoidable 
wars may have occasioned, not ungenerously throwing 
upon posterity the burthen which we ourselves ought to 
bear. The execution of these maxims belongs to your 
representatives; but it is necessary that public opinion 
should co-operate. 

To facilitate to them the performance of their duty, it 
is essential that you should practically bear in mind, that 
towards the payment of debts there must be revenue : 
that to have revenue, there must be taxes; that no taxes 
can be devised which are not more or less inconvenient 
and unpleasant; that the intrinsic embarrassment inse¬ 
parable from the selection of the proper objects, (which 
is always a choice of difficulties) ought to be a decisive 
motive for a candid construction of the conduct of the 
government in making it, and for a spirit of acquies¬ 
cence in the measures for obtaining revenue, which the 
public exigencies may at any time dictate. 

Observe good faith and justice towards all nations: 
cultivate peace and harmony with all : religion and mo¬ 
rality enjoin this conduct; and can it be, that good po¬ 
licy does not equally enjoin it ? It will be worthy of a 
free, enlightened, and, at no distant period, a great na¬ 
tion, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel 
example of a people always guided by an exalted justice 
and benevolence. Who can doubt, but, in the course of 
time and things, the fruits of such a plan would richly 
repay any temporary advantages which might be lost by 
a steady adherence to it ?—Can it be that Providence has 
not connected the permanent felicity of a nation with its 
virtue ? The experiment, at least, is recommended by 
every sentiment which ennobles human nature.—Alas ! 
is it rendered impossible by its vices ? 

In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more es¬ 
sential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


329 


particular nations, anti passionate attachments for others, 
should be excluded; and that in place of them, just 
and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. 
The nation which indulges towards another an habitual 
hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a 
slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, ei¬ 
ther of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty 
and its interest. Antipathy in one nation against another, 
disposes each more readily to offer insult and injury, to 
lay hold of slight causes of umbrage, and to be haughty 
and untractable, when accidental or trifling occasions of 
dispute occur. 

Hence, frequent collisions, obstinate, envenomed, and 
bloody contests.—The nation, prompted by ill-will and 
resentment, sometimes impels to war the government, 
contrary to the best calculations of policy. The govern¬ 
ment sometimes participates in the national propensity, 
and adopts, through passion, what reason would reject; 
at other times it makes the animosity of the nation sub¬ 
servient to projects of hostility, instigated by pride, am¬ 
bition, and other sinister and pernicious motives. The 
peace often, sometimes perhaps the liberty of nations, 
has been the victim. 

So, likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation for 
another, produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the 
favourite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary- 
common interest, in cases where no real common inter¬ 
est exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the 
other, betrays the former into a participation in the quar¬ 
rels and wars of the latter, without adequate inducement 
or justification. It leads also to concessions to the favour¬ 
ite nation of privileges denied to others, which is apt 
doubly to injure the nation making the concessions; by 
unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been re¬ 
tained ; and by exciting jealousy, ill-will, and a disposi¬ 
tion to retaliate, in the parties from whom equal privi¬ 
leges are withheld: And it gives to ambitious, corrupt¬ 
ed, or deluded citizens (who devote themselves to the 
favourite nation) facility to betray or sacrifice the inter¬ 
ests of their own country, without odium, sometimes 
even with popularity; gilding with the appearances of a 
virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable deference 

2 F 2 


330 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the 
base or foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or 
infatuation. 

As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, 
such attachments are particularly alarming to the truly 
enlightened and independent patriot. How many oppor¬ 
tunities do they afford to tamper with domestic factions, 
to practice the arts of seduction, to mislead public opi¬ 
nion, to influence or awe the public councils! Such an 
attachment to a small or weak, towards a great and pow¬ 
erful nation, dooms the former to be the satellite of the 
latter. 

Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I 
conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy 
of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since 
history and experience prove, that foreign influence is 
one of the most baneful foes of republican government. 
But that jealousy, to be useful, must be impartial; else 
it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be 
avoided, instead of a defence against it. Excessive par¬ 
tiality for one foreign nation, and excessive dislike of 
another, cause those whom they actuate to see the dan¬ 
ger only on one side, and serve to veil and even to se¬ 
cond the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots, 
who may resist the intrigues of the favourite, are liable 
to become suspected and odious; while its tools and 
dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people 
to surrender their interests. 

The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign 
nations, is in extending our commercial relations, to 
have with them as little political connexion as possible. 
So far as we have already formed engagements, let them 
be fulfilled with perfect good faith.—Here let us stop. 

Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us 
have none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be 
engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which 
are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, there¬ 
fore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by 
artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, 
or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friend¬ 
ships, or enmities. 

Our detached and distant situation invites and enables 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


331 


us to pursue a different course. If we remain one peo¬ 
ple, under an efficient government, the period is not far 
off', when we may defy material injury from external an¬ 
noyance : when we may take such an attitude as will 
cause the neutrality, we may at any time resolve upon, 
to be scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, 
under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, 
will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation ; when 
we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by 
justice, shall counsel. 

Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation ? 
Why quit our own, to stand upon foreign ground ? Why, 
by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Eu¬ 
rope, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of 
European ambition, rivalship, interest, humour, or ca¬ 
price ? 

’Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alli¬ 
ances, with any portion of the foreign world; so far, I 
mean, as we are now at liberty to do it: for let me not 
be understood as capable of patronizing infidelity to ex¬ 
isting engagements. I hold the maxim no less applica¬ 
ble to public than to private affairs, that honesty is 
always the best policy. I repeat it, therefore, let those 
engagements be observed in their genuine sense. But, 
in my opinion, it is unnecessary, and would be unwise, 
to extend them. 

Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable 
establishments, on a respectable defensive posture, we 
may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary 
emergencies. 

Harmony and a liberal intercourse with all nations, 
are recommended by policy, humanity and interest. But 
even our commercial policy should hold an equal and 
impartial hand; neither seeking nor granting exclusive 
favours or preferences; consulting the natural course 
of things; diffusing and diversifying, by gentle means, 
the streams of commerce, but forcing nothing; estab¬ 
lishing, with powers so disposed, in order to give trade 
a stable course, to define the rights of our merchants, 
and to enable tlu government to support them, conven¬ 
tional rules of intercourse, the best that present circum¬ 
stances and mutual opinion will permit, but temporary. 


332 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS ©F 


and liable to be from time to time abandoned or varied, 
as experience and circumstances shall dictate ; constant¬ 
ly keeping in view, that ’tis folly in one nation to look 
for disinterested favours from another; that it must pay 
with a portion of its independence for whatever it may 
accept under that character; that by such acceptance it 
may place itself in the condition of having given equiva¬ 
lents for nominal favours, and yet of being reproached 
with ingratitude for not giving more. There can be 
no greater error than to expect, or calculate upon real 
favours from nation to nation. ’Tis an illusion which 
experience must cure, which a just pride ought to dis¬ 
card. 

In offering to you, my countrymen, these counsels of 
an old and affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will 
make the strong and lasting impression I could wish; 
that they will controul the usual current of the passions, 
or prevent our nation from running the course which 
has hitherto marked the destiny of nations : But, if I may 
even flatter myself, that they may be productive of some 
partial benefit, some occasional good; that they may 
now and then recur to, to moderate the fury of party - 
spirit, to warn against the mischiefs of foreign intrigue, 
to guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism ; 
this hope will be a full recompcnce for the solicitude for 
your welfare, by which they have been dictated. 

How far in the discharge of my official duties, I have 
been guided by the principles which nave been deline¬ 
ated, the public records and other evidences of my con¬ 
duct must witness to you and to the world. To myself, 
the assurance of my own conscience is, that I have at 
least believed myself to be guided by them. 

In relation to the still-subsisting war in Europe, my 
proclamation of the 22d of April, 1793, is the index to 
my plan. Sanctioned by your approving voice and by 
that of your Representatives in both Houses of Con¬ 
gress, the spirit of that measure has continually governed 
me; uninfluenced by any attempts to deter or divert me 
from it. 

After deliberate examination, with the aid of the best 
lights I could obtain, I was well satisfied that our coun¬ 
try, under all the circumstances of the case, had a right 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


333 

to take, and was bound in duty and interest, to take a 
neutral position. Having taken it, I determined, as far 
us should depend upon me, to maintain it, with modera¬ 
tion, perseverance and firmness. 

The considerations which respect the right to hold 
this conduct, it is not necessary on this occasion to detail. 
I will only observe, that according to my understanding 
of the matter, that right, so far from being denied by any 
of the belligerent powers, has been virtually admitted 
by all. 

The duty of holding a neutral conduct may be inferred, 
without any thing more, from the obligations which jus¬ 
tice and humanity impose on every nation, in cases in 
which it is free to act, to maintain inviolate the relations 
of peace and amity towards other nations. 

The inducements of interest for observing that con¬ 
duct will best be referred to your own reflections and 
experience. With me, a predominant motive has been 
to endeavour to gain time to our country to settle and 
mature its yet recent institutions, and to progress without 
interruption, to that degree of strength and consistency, 
which is necessary to give it, humanly speaking, the com¬ 
mand of its own fortunes. 

Though in reviewing the incidents of my administra¬ 
tion, I am unconscious of intentional error; I am, never¬ 
theless, too sensible of my defects not to think it probable 
that I may have committed many errors. Whatever they 
may be , I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert or 
mitigate the evils to which they jnay tend. I shall also 
carry with me the hofie that my country will never cease 
to view the?n with indulgence ; and that after forty-five 
years of my life dedicated to its service , with an upright 
zeal , the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned 
to oblivion , as myself must soon be to the mansions of 
rest. 

Relying on its kindness in this, as in other things, and 
actuated by that fervent love towards it, w'hich is so natu¬ 
ral to a man, w ho views in it the natural soil of himself 
and his progenitors for several generations; I anticipate, 
w ith pleasing expectation, that retreat, in which 1 pro¬ 
mise myself to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoy¬ 
ment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow citizens, 


334 


biographical memoirs of 


the benign influence of good laws under a free govern¬ 
ment; the ever-favourite object of my heart, and the 
happy reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labours 
and dangers. 

G. Washington. 

United States , 

1 7th September , 1796. 


On the 7th of December, 1796, President Washing¬ 
ton delivered his last speech to the representatives oftiie 
people at the opening of the second session of the fourth 
Congress. We regret that our contracted limits will 
not permit of inserting it verbatim. In this address he 
communicates information respecting the measures ta¬ 
ken for carrying into effect treaties with the Indian na¬ 
tions, Great-Britain, Spain, and Algiers. He likewise 
informs, that measures are in operation for effecting 
treaties with the Regencies of Tunis and Tripoli. He 
wishes the United States to look to the means, and to 
set about the gradual creation of a navy; so that a future 
war of Europe may not find our commerce in the same 
unprotected state in which it was found by the present. 

He then proceeds to recommend the establishment of 
certain branches of manufacture on public account; par - 
ticularly those which are of a nature esse?itial to the fur¬ 
nishing and equipping of the public force i?i time of war. 

He judiciously recommends the institution of a Board 
of Agriculture, composed of proper characters, charged 
with collecting and diffusing information, and enabled, 
by premiums and small pecuniary aids, to encourage and 
assist a spirit of discovery and improvement. Experi¬ 
ence had proved this to be a cheap instrument of immense 
national benefit. He then recalls the attention of Con¬ 
gress, to a subject, he had before proposed to their con¬ 
sideration, the expediency of establishing a national 
university, and also a military academy. He points out 
as motives to the institution of a national university, the 
assimulation of the principles, opinions, and manners of 
our countrymen, by the common education of a portion 
of our youth from every quarter, and remarks that the 




GEORGE WASHINGTON*. 


O *• 


OOJ 


more homogeneous our citizens can be made in these 
particulars, the greater will be the prospect of our per¬ 
manent union: and that a primary object should be the 
education of our youth in the science of GOVERN¬ 
MENT. In a republic, what species of knowledge can 
be equally important ? and what duty can be more pres¬ 
sing on its Legislature, than to patronize a plan for com¬ 
municating it to those who are to be the future guardians 
of the liberties of the country ? 

The institution of a military accademy, he also observes 
is recommended by cogent reasons. However pacific, 
says he, the general policy of a nation may be, it ought 
never to be without an adequate stock of military knowl¬ 
edge, for emergencies. 

The following important paragraph is verbatim: 
t( The compensations to the officers of the United States, 
in various instances, and in none more than in respect t© 
the most important stations, appear to call for legislative 
revision. The consequences of a defective provision are 
of serious import to the government. If private wealth 
is to supply the defect of public contribution, it will 
greatly contract the sphere within which the selection of 
character for office is to be made, and will proportionally 
diminish the probability of it-choice of men able, as well 
as upright. Besides, that it would be repugnant to the 
vital principles of our government, virtually to exclude 
from public trusts, talents and virtue, unless accompa¬ 
nied by wealth.** 

The President then expresses his regret at the unplea¬ 
sant circumstances which have occurred relative to the 
French republic ; his ardent wish being to maintain cor¬ 
dial harmony, as far as is consistent with the rights and 
honour of our country. 

The House of Representatives he informed, that the 
revenues of the United States continued in a state of 
progressive improvement: and are invited to take such 
further measures as will ascertain, to our country, the 
speedy extinguishment of the public debt. 

He then concluded his address to both Houses of Con¬ 
gress, in the following words: u My solicitude to see 
the militia of the United States placed on an efficient 
establishment, has been so often and so ardently express- 


336 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


ed, that I shall but barely recal the subject to your view, 
on the present occasion; at the same time, I shall submit 
to your inquiry, whether our harbours are yet sufficiently 
secured.” 

« The situation in which I now stand, for the last 
time, in the midst of the representatives of the people 
of the United States, naturally recals the period, when 
the administration of the present form of government 
commenced; and I cannot omit the occasion to congra¬ 
tulate you, and my country, on the success of the expe¬ 
riment ; nor to repeat my fervent prayer to the Supreme 
Ruler of the Universe, and Sovereign Arbiter of Na¬ 
tions, that his providential care may still be extended to 
the United States ; that the virtue and happiness of the 
people may be preserved ; and that the government 
which they have instituted for the protection of their li¬ 
berties may be perpetual. 

On Saturday, the 4th of March, 1797, John Adams , 
Esq. who was elected the successor of President Wash¬ 
ington, attended the Senate and Representatives of the 
United States, and took his oath of office, according to 
the directions of the constitution. The ceremony af¬ 
forded a spectacle of high satisfaction and delight to every 
genuine republican. To behold a fellow-citizen, raised 
by the voice of the people, to be the first magistrate of a 
free nation, and to behold at the same time George 
Washington , who lately filled the presidential chair, at¬ 
tending the inauguration of the successor in office, as a 
private citizen, beautifully exemplify the sublime simpli¬ 
city and excellence of republican government. 

The last official act of President Washington , is a let¬ 
ter to the Secretary of State, dated March 3, 1797. It 
respects certain forged letters, which were published in 
the years 1777 and 1796, and obtruded on the public as 
his. They were published at the two most critical 
periods of his life, with the view of striking at the integ¬ 
rity of his motives, of wounding his character, and of 
deceiving the people. At the conclusion, therefore of 
his public employments, he deemed it a duty which he 
owed to himself, to his country, and to truth, to detail 
the circumstances, and solemnly to declare, that the let¬ 
ters (the dates of which he recites) are base forgeries, 


33r 


GEORGE WASHINGTON’. 

M 

were never written by him, and that he never saw or 
heard of them, until they appeared in print. During 
the period in which he held the supreme command of 
the army, and his civil administration, the purity of his 
own mind prevented him from contradicting the falshood 
by any public declaration; but, upon his retiring to pri¬ 
vate life, and not knowing how soon a more serious event 
might take place, he made this public declaration, and 
requested that it might be deposited in the office of the 
department of state, as a testimony of the truth to the 
present generation and to posterity. 


Extract of a letter written to General Knox the day be¬ 
fore the termination of his office , exhibiting the se?iti - 
ments with which he contemplated this event , and with 
which he viewed the tinceasing calumnies with which 
his whole administration continued to be aspersed. 

“To the wearied traveller who sees a resting place, 
and is bending his body to lean thereon, I now compare 
myself; but to be suffered to do this in peace, is too much 
to be endured by some. To misrepresent my motives ; 
to reprobate my politics; and to weaken the confidence 
which has been reposed in my administration;—are ob¬ 
jects which cannot be relinquished by those who will be 
satisfied with nothing short of a change in our political 
system. The consolation, however, which results from 
conscious rectitude, and the approving voice of my coun¬ 
try unequivocally expressed by its representatives—de¬ 
prives their sting of its poison, and places in the same 
point of view both the weakness and malignity of their 
efforts. 

“ Although the prospect of retirement is most grateful 
to my soul, and I have not a wish to mix again in the 
great world, or to partake in its politics, yet I am not 
without my regrets at parting with (perhaps never more 
to meet) the few intimates whom I love. Among these, 
be assured you arc one.” 

Vol. ii. 2 G 


338 


biographical memoirs of 


ON the 22d of March, 1797, General Washington 
took farewell of all public employment, and left Phila¬ 
delphia for his estate at Mount Vernon. In every town 
through which he passed on his way, he received the 
grateful and affectionate addresses which were so justly 
due to his merits from an enlightened and grateful 
people. 

Having thus amply described the august Washington 
in his public character and official capacity, suffer us, for 
a moment, to follow him in private, and take a view of 
him in the character of a plain citizen in his rural resi¬ 
dence at Mount Vernon. 

The virtuous simplicity which distinguished the pri¬ 
vate life of General Washington, tho’ less known than 
the dazzling splendour of his military achievements, is 
not less edifying in example, or worthy the attention of 
his countrymen. The conspicuous character he has acted 
on the theatre of human affairs, the uniform dignity with 
which he sustained his part amidst difficulties of the most 
discouraging nature, and the glory of having arrived 
through them at the hour of triumph, have made many 
official and literary persons, on both sides of the ocean, 
ambitious of a correspondence with him. These corres¬ 
pondencies unavoidably engrossed a great portion of his 
time; and the communications contained in them, com¬ 
bined with the numerous periodical publications and 
news-papers which he perused, rendered him, as it were, 
the focus of political intelligence for the new world. 
Nor were his conversations with well informed men less 
conducive to bring him acquainted with the various 
events which happened in the different countries of the 
globe. Every foreigner of distinction, who travelled in 
America, made it a point to visit him. Members of Con¬ 
gress and other dignified personages seldom passed his 
house without calling to pay their respects. As another 
source of information, it may be mentioned, that many 
literary productions were sent to him annually by their 
authors in Europe; and that there is scarcely one work 
written in America, on any art, science, or subject, which 
did not seek his protection, or which was not offered to 
him as a token of gratitude. Mechanical inventions 
were frequently submitted to him for his approbation, 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


339 


and natural curiosities presented to him for his investi¬ 
gation. But the multiplicity of epistolary applications, 
often on the remains of some business which happened 
when he was in office, sometimes on subjects foreign to 
his situation, frivolous in their nature, and intended 
merely to gratify the vanity of the writers by drawing 
answers from him, were truly distressing and almost in¬ 
credible. His benignity in answering, perhaps increased 
the number. Did he not husband every moment to the 
best advantage, it w’ould not have been in his power to 
notice the vast variety of subjects that claimed his at¬ 
tention. 

In his manner of living he was extremely regular; 
temperate and industrious. He rose winter and summer 
at the dawn of day, generally read or wrote sometimes 
before breakfast: breakfasted about seven o’clock on In¬ 
dian hoecake and tea, and often rode immediately to his 
different farms, and remained with his labourers till a 
little after two o’clock, when he returned; at three he 
dined, commonly on a single dish, and drank from half 
a pint to a pint of Madeira wine; this, with one small 
dish of tea which he took half an hour before the setting 
of the sun, constituted his whole sustenance till the next 
day. His table, however, was always furnished with 
elegance and exuberance, but was void of pomp: and 
whether he had company or not, he remained an hour at 
table in familiar conversation. His temper was of a se¬ 
rious cast, and his countenance carried the impression 
of thoughtfulness; yet he perfectly relished a pleasant 
story, an unaffected sally of wit, or a burlesque descrip¬ 
tion. After dinner he applied himself to business, and 
about nine retired to rest; but when he had company he 
politely attended upon them till they wished to with¬ 
draw.—Agriculture was his favourite employment, he 
made observations on the produce of lands, and endea¬ 
voured to throw new light upon the business of the 
farmer; linen and woollen cloaths were manufactured 
under his roof, and order and economy were established 
in all his departments, both within and without doors. 
Mrs. Washington presided over the whole, and united 
to the qualities of an excellent farmer’s wife, that simple 
dignity which ought to characterise a woman whose hus- 


340 BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 

band has acted so distinguished a part on the public the¬ 
atre.—Such is the history of the private life of this great 
character. 

In 1798,'’the unparallelled treatment which the Ameri¬ 
can ministers received at Paris from the republic of 
France, left little ground to hope for any amicable ac¬ 
commodation with that republic, in consequence of which, 
the military forces of the United States were greatly aug¬ 
mented, and the President, with the advice of the Senate, 
appointed George Washington , Lieutenant General and 
commander in chief of all the armies raised or to be raised 
by the United States: this wise and judicious appoint¬ 
ment was attended with the happiest effect, the virtue of 
a general so well experienced in war, established the 
national dignity and independence, and inspired the citi¬ 
zens with enthusiasm. On receiving the appointment, 
the General expressed a wish that it had fallen upon a 
man less advanced in years, and better qualified to en¬ 
counter the vicissitudes of war; he recurred to his de¬ 
termination of closing his life in retirement and peace, 
but the conduct of the directory of France towards our 
country, he said “ excited in his breast corresponding 
sentiments with the rest of his countrymen,” in conse¬ 
quence of which, he accepted the appointment with this 
reserve, that “ he should not be called into the field, un¬ 
til the army was in a situation to require his presence, or 
it became indispensable by the urgency of circumstan¬ 
ces:” he informed the President, “ he could not accept 
of any emolument annexed to the appointment, before 
entering into a situation to incur expense.” 

He held this command, and contributed his advice and 
assistance towards the arrangement and organization of 
the army until the 14th of December 1799, when it pleased 
Divine Providence to remove him from this life ; he w r as 
in his 68th year, and in the enjoyment of perfect health ; 
the disorder of which he died was an inflammatory sore 
throat, which proceeded from a slight cold. 

On Friday, the 13th,j he rode out to one of his plan¬ 
tations, and was much wet by the rain, on returning. He 
was taken with the croup that night; but from humanity 
to his servants and tenderness to his physician, very 
unfortunately declined sending for medical aid, until day¬ 
light on Saturday morning. 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


341 


Before Dr. Craik arrived at Mount Vernon, the Gene¬ 
ral had been bled by one of his overseers. The doctor 
repeated the same immediately; to whom the General 
observed, u he had sent for him too lateand seemed 
to have a presentiment of his dissolution; Doctors Dick 
and Brown also attended. 

As his respiration became difficult, he said calmly, 
“ doctors , I die hard.” But notwithstanding the ex¬ 
cruciating agonies of his violent disease, he tranquilly 
asked several questions during the evening. About fif¬ 
teen minutes before he died, (which was between 11 and 
12 o’clock, on Saturday night, the 14th of December) 
he said to Doctor Craik, i( doctor , what is the clock ? 
how long" am I to continue in this situation ?” The doctor 
answered, “ Not long sir?” He then rejoined, with the 
firmest countenance imaginable, “ I have no fear , doc¬ 
tor , to die.” 

Mrs. Washington was at the bed side with his family, 
and a number of domestics in the room. H<e would not 
wound their sensibility by taking a formal leave of any 
one.—At last his breathing grew shorter, he closed his 
eyes and mouth with his own hands , and expired !—Thus 
did the last moments of this venerable man correspond 
with the whole tenor of his well-spent life. He died 
with perfect resignation to the will of Heaven, and in full 
possession of his reason, not a groan or complaint es¬ 
caped him! 

His body was entombed, with solemn honours and fu¬ 
neral pomp, in the family vault, upon the estate of Mount 
Vernon, attended by the clergy, military, masonic breth¬ 
ren, and a numerous concourse of citizens. 

Near the head of the coffin were inscribed the words 
Surge ad Judicium ; about the midde, Gloria Deo ; and, 
on the silver plate, General George Washington depart¬ 
ed this life 14//z Dec. Jt'Jat 68. 

Three general discharges by the artillery, cavalry, 
and infantry, paid the last tribute of respect to the en¬ 
tombed commander in chief of the American armies. 

The sun was now setting—Alas, the son of glory was 
set No, the name of Washington will live for ever! 

2 F 2 


342 


BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF 


From Vernon’s Mount behold the hero rise; 
Resplendent forms attend him thro’ the skies I 
The shades of war-worn veterans round him throng 1 . 
And lead enwrap’d their honour’d chief along-. 

A laurel wreath the immortal Warren bears, 

An arch triumphal Mercer’s hand prepares; 

Young Laurens, erst th’avenging bolt of war, 

With port majestic, guides the glittering car; 
Montgomery’s godlide form directs the way, 

And Green unfolds the gates of endless day ; 

Whilst angels, “ trumpet-tongu’d,” proclaim thro’ air, 
u Due honours for The First of Men prepare !” 

The melancholy intelligence of the death of General 
Washington, was every where received throughout the 
United States, with sensations of sorrow and regret; the 
houses of Congress for a period adjourned ; they con¬ 
doled with the President of the United States, on the 
loss our country had sustained in the death of her wor¬ 
thiest citizen; they went in mourning, and requested the 
President to issue his proclamation, recommending the 
citizens throughout the Union, to wear black crape on 
the left arm for thirty days; all the state assemblies fol¬ 
lowed the example : orders were issued from the war- 
office, navy department, See. requesting the officers to 
-wear crape on the left arm for six months, and the ves¬ 
sels of the navy to put on mourning for one week, by 
wearing their colours half mast high. 

Orders w r ere issued by the direction of the President 
of the United States, announcing to the army the death 
of its beloved chief.\ and requested the military honours 
therein, specifying to be paid at the several stations of 
the army. 

The Senate and Plouse of Representatives of the 
United States enacted, u that a marble monument be 
erected in the capitol in the city of Washington, to the 
memory of General Washington; and that his family 
be requested to permit his body to be deposited under 
it; and that the monument be so designed as to comme¬ 
morate the great military and political events of his life. 
That there be a funeral procession, and a public oration 
delivered on the occasion.” To the above resolution 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


343 


Mi's. Washington assented, sacrificing her private wishes 
and individual feelings to the public will. The public 
procession took place in Philadelphia, on Thursday, De¬ 
cember the 26th; the ceremony was judiciously con¬ 
ducted ; perhaps there never was a greater display of 
public mourning, solemnity, and respect, exhibited in 
the western hemisphere ; the arrangements united every 
description of public and private character, civil and mili¬ 
tary ; the funeral service, adapted with great solemnity to 
the occasion, was pronounced by bishop White, the de¬ 
ceased being of the episcopal church ; after which, Ge¬ 
neral Lee, who w'as appointed by Congress for that pur¬ 
pose, delivered the funeral oration : we shall not attempt 
a report of this admirable eulogium, of which the pub¬ 
lic are already possessed, convinced that it would suffer 
by the attempt. 

Having pursued this distinguished man throughout 
his public life and in his private retreat, it only now re¬ 
mains that we describe his person, which bears a very 
great analogy to the qualifications of his mind. 

General Washington was a tall well made man, rather 
above the common size; his frame was robust, and his 
constitution vigorous, and capable of enduring great fa¬ 
tigue. His features were manly and bold, and his eyes of 
a bluish cast, and very lively; his hair a deep brown, his 
face rather long and marked with the small-pox; his 
complexion sun burnt, and without much colour, and his 
countenance sensible, composed, and thoughtful; there 
was a remarkable air of dignity about him, with a strik¬ 
ing degree of gracefulness : He had an excellent under¬ 
standing without much quickness ; was strictly just, vigi¬ 
lant, and generous ; as a military man, he was brave, en¬ 
terprising, and cautious : An affectionate husband, a faith - 
ful friend, a father to the deserving ; gentle in his manners, 
in temper rather reserved ; a total stranger to religious 
prejudices, which have so often excited Christians of one 
denomination to cut the throats of those of another; in 
his morals irreproachable; he was never known to ex¬ 
ceed the bounds of the most rigid temperance: in a 
word, all his friends and acquaintance universally allow 
that no man ever united in his own person, a more per¬ 
fect alliance of the virtues of a philosopher with the ta- 


344* BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS, ScC. 

lents of a statesman and a general. Candour, sincerity, 
affability, and simplicity, seem to have been the striking 
features of his character. The best portraits ever taken 
of him, arc those painted by the ingenious Mr. Stewart, 
of Germantown, and the best engraving is the large me- 
zotinto done by Mr. Savage, of Philadelphia. 

Such is the life and character of the man to whom 
America intrusted her important cause, and she has had 
every reason to be satisfied with her choice; and most 
ungrateful would she be to the Great Disposer of human 
events, were she not to render him unremitting thanks 
for having provided her with such a citizen at such a 
crisis. 

Most nations have been favoured with some patriotic 
deliverer.—The Israelites had their Moses; Rome had 
her Camillus ; Greece her Leonidas ; Sweden her Gus- 
tavus; and England her Hampdens, her Russels, and her 
Sydneys; but these illustrious heroes, though success¬ 
ful in preserving and defending their country, did not, 
like Washington, form or establish an empire. 









AN ORATION, 


UPON 

THE DEATH 

OF 

GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON, 

DELIVERED IN THE STATE-HOUSE, AT TRENTON, 

ON THE 14TH OF JANUARY, 1800, 

Br THE Rev. SAMUEL STANHOPE SMITH , D. D. 

PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE OF NEW "JERSEY. 


G REAT GOD ! we adore thy Sovereign Providence, 
which hath smitten the father of his country, and 
left a nation in tears ! 

My fellow-citizens ! your griefs are manly—they are 
approved of Heaven—you mourn a father. All Ame¬ 
rica mingles her sighs with yours—foreign nations, ad¬ 
miring his achievements and his virtues, will think that 
liberty has lost a protector among them—and even that 
great people from whom we wrested our freedom and 
independence, forgetting that they have lost an empire 
by his wisdom and valour, will honour him with their 
giiefs, and their praises. 

His country is erecting monuments and statues to his 

memory. Brass and marble shall express his glory- 

But brass and marble will decay, and the glory that is 
committed to them alone will perish. Eloquence and 
history shall rear to him more durable trophies. Histo¬ 
rians shall immortalize their page with the name of 
WASHINGTON; and future orators shall quote it 
with the names of Epaminondas, of Aristides, and of 
Cato, to illuminate their discourse, and to enforce, by 
great examples, the virtues of a disinterested and heroic 



346 


AN ORATION ON THE DEATH OF 


patriotism. But his most lasting and most noble monu¬ 
ment shall be the affections of his countrymen, who will 
transmit their admiration of him as an increasing inhe¬ 
ritance to their latest posterity. To testify the esteem, 
and to announce to the world the profound regrets, of a' 
grateful country, poets, and orators, and the ministers of 
religion, have come forth to pronounce and re-echo his 
praises throughout all America. How sublime, and how 
singular the glory! thus to receive the voluntary ho¬ 
mage of a free, and a great people—the homage of 
equals paid, not to pre-eminence of rank, but of virtue 
—not extorted by the command of power, but the un¬ 
constrained effusion of the heart! I also, at your invita¬ 
tion, appear among them, with a zeal disproportioned to 
my strength, to pay my feeble tribute to the memory of a 
man deservedly so dear to every worthy and honest Amer¬ 
ican—But, ah ! I feel, in the beginning, that my words are 
unable to reach the conceptions of my own mind, and that 
they must fall far below the ideas and emotions which al¬ 
ready occupy yours. One advantage, indeed, I may derive 
from hence, the only one that inability can yield, which is, 
that, when I have bestowed on this illustrious citizen the 
highest praises, I shall have the testimony of your hearts 
that I have even said less than the truth—I shall have no 
need to have recourse to the base arts of flattery to 
praise the most modest of men, who spurned from him, 
while living, all insincerity and adulation—Oh 1 if the 
occasion, and the presence of this numerous and enlight¬ 
ened assembly, could light up within me a spark of that 
eloquence which they are so well fitted to enkindle, and 
could raise above itself a genius so far inferior to the 
subject, and the demands of public expectation, with 
what noble ideas should I fill your minds 1 What a warm 
impression would the recital of achievements, and the 
display of talents and virtues like his, make upon your 
hearts! Certainly no hero, modern, or ancient, has ever 
offered to the orator a more illustrious or fertile subject 
of that eloquence that is calculated to touch the heart, 
or to raise men to the heights of virtue by great ex¬ 
amples. 

In whom have ever shone with more splendor the 
talents of war, in creating an army; in successfully 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


I i 

>4 A 


maintaining himself in the face of a superior enemy; in 
inspiring with courage raw troops ; in attaching soldiers 
to order and their country in the midst of extreme hard¬ 
ships, and the injustice of their country itself; in seizing 
victories by an enterprizing bravery, when enterprize 
was safe for the republic, or in .conducting retreats that 
gained him no less glory than victories; in vanquishing 
his enemies by a firm and undaunted courage, or consum < 
ing and wasting them away by a wise and noble patience ? 
Where can we find a conqueror so humble, so disinter¬ 
ested, so devoted solely to his country—so serene, so 
sublime in adversity—so modest in^the midst of triumphs 
—in danger so intrepid and calm—and possessing such 
controul over events by his prudence and perseverance ? 

Other nations begin their eulogiums of great men, by 
tracing their birth to some royal house, or some noble 
family.—This is the praise of slaves. Virtue, talents, 
services, are our nobility. What glory could he have 
derived from a noble parentage, whose virtues would 
have added their chief splendor to thrones ? Such ad¬ 
ventitious and accidental distinctions might have lessen¬ 
ed, but could not have augmented, that high and solid 
fame which he now possesses. The name of WASH¬ 
INGTON is surrounded with a lustre that eclipses that 
of kings: And not his smallest praise is, that it is all his 
own—it is derived from the intrinsic worth and merit of 
the man—not a ray of it is borrowed—his father was a 
plain but virtuous citizen. 

Socrates believed that he was attended by a Genius 
which often gave him council and instruction, and watch¬ 
ed over his safety—The Genius of Brutus abandoned 
him at the plains of Philippi; but the guardian Genius 
of our hero, which never forsook him, was that Divine 
Providence, which he always devoutly acknowledged, 
and which seemed to preside over him with a peculiar 
predilection from his birth, giving his mind that happy 
impulse and direction, and combining those fortunate 
coincidences of events, which we have seen leading to 
success and fame in all the important scenes of his life. 

His first education was directed only to solid and use¬ 
ful attainments. Mathematical science, which contri¬ 
butes, perhaps, more than any other to strengthen the 


348 


AN ORATION ON THE DEATH OT 


mind, and which is so intimately connected with the 
military art, was his earliest, and his favourite study. 
His exercises were manly and vigorous; his constitution 
was active and strong; his port noble and commanding; 
his person graceful and majestic; his countenance ex¬ 
pressive of that benignity, that honour, that grandeur of 
sentiment, that profound reflection, for which he was 
distinguished. But these are vulgar praises. He had 
a mind capable of combining all the interests of his coun¬ 
try ; a discernment capable of penetrating and defeating 
all the designs of his enemies; a heart capable of daring 
every danger in its defence. 

His dawn of life gave some auspicious presages of the 
splendour of its meridian. Scarcely had he attained his 
twentieth year, when he was employed by the govern¬ 
ment of Virginia, his native state, in an enterprize as 
hazardous, as it was honourable, which required all the 
prudence of age united with all the vigour and fire of 
youth. The armies of France threatened to environ 
these states, then colonies of Great Britain, and to in¬ 
close them in a chain of fortifications from the lakes to 
New-Orleans; and they were artfully attaching to their 
own interests, and exciting against us, the fury of the 
savage nations. Young Washington was charged to re¬ 
monstrate with their commander, to penetrate their de¬ 
signs, to estimate their force, to observe their works, 
and to conciliate, if possible, the affections of the native 
tribes. In the discharge of this trust, you see him, at an 
inclement season of the year, traverse the immense 
forest alone. Amidst incessant rains and snows, and over 
vast rivers, rendered almost impassable by ice, and sur¬ 
rounded with lurking parties of hostile savages, he pur¬ 
sues his course. When his horses are exhausted, he 
continues on foot his difficult and dangerous route; he 
observes every thing with the eye of a warrior ; he marks 
out scites for fortresses; he measures the fortresses of 
the enemy ; he displays a firmness of mind in the greatest 
dangers, a patience of fatigue in the greatest difficulties, 
and a consummate address in the conduct of the whole, 
that would have been worthy the reputation of the oldest 
commanders; and finally, executes an arduous commis¬ 
sion in a manner that deserved and obtained universal 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


349 


applause. At an age when other youth are pursuing only 
pleasures, and softening their minds and bodies by in¬ 
dulgence, he is already hardening himself for the toils 
and dangers of war—he is practically studying mankind 
—and applying the science of Euclid and of Vauban to 
the defence of his country. 

The WAR, which then menaced these infant settle¬ 
ments, soon began to rage. The brave but impetuous 
Braddock was commissioned to defend, in America, the 
honour, and the interests, of Britain. In all the pride of 
European discipline, and British valour, he despised an 
enemy who fought by stealth, and scorned the admoni¬ 
tions of Washington, who was only a youth, but who was 
a warrior by intuition, and who perceived, in a moment, 
every change which that formidable art ought to assume 
from new circumstances. Surrounded in the forest by 
an enemy invisible, but dreadful, his ranks cut down by 
a hidden fire, his principal officers slain, and himself 
mortally wounded, amidst carnage and death, where 
valour was useless and discipline only offered surer 
marks to the destructive aim of the foe, terror and de¬ 
spair overwhelmed every heart. Then our hero, all 
calm and intrepid, and now left to pursue his own ideas, 
was seen, on the spot to change the whole order of bat¬ 
tle. With his brave Virginians he protected the aston¬ 
ished battalions of Britain, covered them under the 
buckler of America, and in the name of his country, 
saved those armies, whom in her defence, he was one 
day to conquer. They shouted him their deliverer; and 
the shores of Europe and America re-echoed the applau¬ 
ses of the camp. 

But it was, when America called him to the head of 
her armies, in the long and bloody war which she was 
obliged to maintain, in defence of her rights, and her 
existence, again that nation, become haughty and unjust, 
that he displayed the full extent, and variety, of his 
genius. Britain had cherished her colonies in the new 
world merely as instruments of commerce, till their 
growing prosperity rendered them at length an object 
both of avarice, and of ambition. Flushed with her 
triumphs under the auspices of the great Chatham, and 
rejecting, after profiting by, the counsels of that sublime 
Vol. ii. 2 H 


350 


AN ORATION ON THE DEATH OF 


statesman, she had already, in imagination, swallowed 
our treasures—divided our provinces among her princes 
—our cities and fields among her nobles— and destined 
our husbandmen to be tenants and labourers for her. 
America, roused to defend rights that were dearer to 
her than her existence, but unprepared to meet an at¬ 
tack which she had not expected from a parent nation, 
had nothing to oppose to this formidable invasion but 
her unconquerable love of liberty, her virtue and Wash¬ 
ington. 

How unequal was the conflict between a young coun¬ 
try, in the very infancy of her improvements-possessing, 
as yet, only a few husbandmen scattered over an unwiel¬ 
dy territory-nursed in habits of veneration and obedience 
to her invader—without an organized government to 
conduct the necessary operations of her defence—des¬ 
titute of clothing, of ammunition, and almost of arms for 
her few soldiers—and rendered still more impotent by 
an injudicious system of finance bottomed upon no funds 
—and, on the other hand, a mighty nation in the summit 
of her glory—grown old in victories—whose numerous 
and veteran armies had just humbled the first power in 
Europe—whose fleets covered and ruled the ocean— 
and who commanded by her commerce, half the wealth 
of the world 1 If we counted only the resources of Amer¬ 
ica, and the number of her troops, would we not pro¬ 
nounce that she was already vanquished ? But the talents 
of her leader were in the room of armies, and of trea¬ 
sures; and his success undeniably ranks him among the 
greatest generals in the universe. He had to compensate, 
by address, the defect of energy in the government— 
to make personal influence supply the want of money, 
and of almost every necessary for a camp—to manage 
with skill the caprices of liberty itself, which are so 
often ruinous to its own interests—to conciliate to the 
service men irritated by disappointment, and the injus¬ 
tice, though perhaps, the necessary injustice, of their 
country—and to raise the courage of those who were 
already subdued by want. You see him, at one time, 
patiently preparing the train of events for some great 
effect— at another, anticipating them by a bold and de¬ 
cisive stroke. Sometimes he stoops upon victory like 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


351 

an eagle—-and sometimes he renders it sure by a prudent 
delay. He always rises from defeat like a conqueror, 
and, in the end, obliges the enemy to abandon the post 

which they had seized.-In all changes of fortune, he 

is serene, collected, and sublime. Success cannot elate 
him. No reverse can sink his courage, or shake his 
firmness. And you behold him with equal admiration, 
when compelled to retire, with the broken remains of 
his army across the Jersies, as when he entered in tri¬ 
umph over the demolished fortifications of York, and, 
by one splendid action, put a period to the war. 

The details of his exploits I leave to the historian. 
They will instruct the remotest ages. They are still 
recent in your memory. The children of America re¬ 
peat them with enthusiasm. His first act was to expel 
the enemy from Boston, and to restore to the nation that 
important capital. Afterwards, when in the face of a 
thousand ships, and an immense army, he was obliged 
to retire before superior numbers from the open and de¬ 
fenceless city of New-York, if, for a moment, ignorance 
and impatience impeached his courage, or his skill, the 
returning reflection of his fellow-citizens approved his 
prudence, and applauded his firmness. Conscious of 
doing what a patriotic general ought to do, he felt all the 
humiliation of unfounded censure ; but he was willing to 
bear the folly, and the injustice, of his countrymen for 
the salvation of his country. He was not among those 
frantic heroes, who, to gain the vain reputation of a 
thoughtless bravery, will hazard the safety of their coun¬ 
try itself. Tho’ he loved glory, the interests of America 
were dearer to him than his own fame. Her circum¬ 
stances, at that moment, imperiously forbad him to risk 
the existence of his small army. His lofty soul was in¬ 
capable of fear: He even seemed to acquire new energies 
at the approach of danger; but a cool and comprehen¬ 
sive wisdom tempered the ardent impulses of his cour¬ 
age ; and he now resolved, like a great general, to ex¬ 
pose nothing to hazard which he could defend by pru¬ 
dence, and not to force fortune where he was sure of 
gaining her by a wise delay. He retired before the 
enemy, always commanding their respect by his well 
chosen positions, till, haying gained the farther shore of 



352 


AN ORATION ON THE DEATH OF 


the Delaware, he there arrested their progress, and there 
triumphantly turned the tide of war. The place on which 
I stand is consecrated by his triumphs—your streets have 
flowed with hostile blood—here victory first returned to 
his standard, which, for a moment, she had abandoned. 
Trenton 1 and Princeton! names rendered dear to your 
country by exploits that will be forever combined with 
them in history, on your plains hope was first rekindled 
in the bosom of America. 

Despondency had begun to seize the public mind. It 
was necessary to restore its vigour by some brilliant ac¬ 
tion ; and Washington who, at one time, so prudently 
retired from danger, was now determined to put all to 
hazard—he had been willing to survive misfortune only 
to retrieve it—he was now prepared to die, or resolved 
to conquer.—I see him in the depth of winter, with an 
army scarcely half clothed, and small in number, his 
mind labouring with some vast, and almost desperate, 
purpose, struggling with the ice, and with the torrent, 
forcing his way across the Delaware. Supported by a 
few militia, brave but undisciplined, his circumstances 
were infinitely critical. An impassable river was now 
behind him, a superior enemy in front, separated from 
him only by a small ravine. The evening closed under 
a tremendous cannonade. Both armies, lighting their 
fires, and setting their guards, were waiting, in anxious 
suspense, the approach of the morning. The fate of 
America seemed to be staked on the event of one great 
and decisive battle. Then the military talents of the 
American hero shone forth with new splendour, and re¬ 
vived, and fixed, the wavering confidence of his country. 
By one of those happy strokes of genius that distinguish 
only great generals, he broke all the plans of his foes, 
and rolled the waves of misfortune back upon themselves. 
In the night he passed unperceived the army in his front, 
attacked an important post in their rear, carried it sword 
in hand, and awakened them to a sense of all their danger, 
and their shame, by the sounds of victory from Princeton. 
Princeton! thy fields, rendered sacred by the blood of 
Mercer, and illustrious by the actions of Washington, 
shall be forever connected in history with his glory— 
thy sons shall hereafter yie with one another in eloquence 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


<5 r <?> 
O JO 

and song to celebrate his fume, and, pointing to the spot 
where Washington triumphed, shall perceive their ge¬ 
nius kindled with new lire, and from him derive, while 
they confer, immortality. 

The plan of the general was to hasten to Brunswick, 
and seize the enemy’s arsenal, stores, and military chest, 
deposited there ; but his troops, harrassedand exhausted 
with incessant labours, marches, and conflicts, were un¬ 
able to accomplish the grandeur of his views. The British 
commander, in the utmost consternation, flew to their 
protection. The American, with a wisdom worthy the 
celebrated dictator who saved Rome, immediately occu¬ 
pied the hills that overlooked the strong position of the 
enemy, on the summits of which he hung like some 
dark and terrible cloud impregnated with thunder, and 
continually threatening to burst upon them.* lie straitens 
their quarters—he drives in their posts—he cuts off their 
parties—he reanimates the courage of the militia of New- 
Jcrsey; and, by practising them in daily combats, ren¬ 
ders them at length, under the conduct of a few gallant 
officers, worthy to fight by the side of veterans—He ex¬ 
pels the enemy from a state which they had so cruelly 
ravaged. 

By the aid of their navy they were enabled rapidly to 
transport themselves to the greatest distances ; and the 
American general was obliged to be ready to meet them, 
at every point. He met them on the Brandywine, where 
the timidity, or the treachery of the men employed to 
bring him intelligence of their movements, defeated one 
of the wisest and most brilliant plans of the war, which 
would probably have put in his possession their artillery, 
their baggage, and their whole camp.t But Heaven had 

* The image which Hannibal applied to Fabiits. 

f The intention of the general was, to permit the ene¬ 
my to cross the Brandywine above him , and , while they 
imagined they were taking him in fan k, to push forward 
his main body , and surprise their camp on the other side 
of the river , which would have cut of' their retreat , and 
been probably followed by their total ruin. His runnersy 
whether intimidated , or corrupted , persisted to assure 

2 II 2 


354 AN ORATION ON THE DEATH OE 

resolved to protract their fate ; and they entered the ca¬ 
pital of Pennsylvania. 

While encamped at the Valley Forge under every dis¬ 
advantage to which a commander could be subject, and 
suffering the most cruel neglect, not to say injustice of 
his country, he surprised a division of their army on the 
heights of Germantown, and in the moment that victory 
was declaring for his arms, and their routed legions were 
fleeing in every direction, a voice, a whisper, one of 
those invisible and unaccountable accidents which so 
frequently decide the fate of battles, wrested the prize 
out of his hands. But his unconquerable energy, his in¬ 
finite resources in misfortune, robbed them of all the 
fruits of their success. They dared no longer venture 
out of their intrenchments, and he held them enchained 
in Philadelphia. 

The generals of Britain, contending in vain against 
the indefatigable courage, and the inexhaustible re¬ 
sources of the American hero, who, though at the head 
of a feeble and ill-appointed army, was often victorious, 
and who reaped even from defeat the fruits of victory, 
resolved to abandon to him Pennsylvania, as they had be¬ 
fore yielded New-Jersey. 

Then you saw him on the burning plains of Monmouth, 
rallying his broken van, and leading it on to a new charge ; 
exposing himself like a common soldier, present in 
every place at the same moment; and while men were 
fainting, and dying in their ranks with fatigue, and heat, 
and thirst, refusing to rest, or to taste refreshment, till 
victory gave him a right to repose. With pleasure I see 
in this assembly your Excellency,* and so many other 
brave officers, who were there witnesses of his glory, 
and who bore no small share in the dangers and the ho¬ 
nours of that memorable day. 

him-) in the most solemn manner-) that the British forces 
had not crossed in the places where he certainly expect¬ 
ed them) and deceived him in regard to their real move - 
?7ie?its y till it was too late to execute his design. He was 
compelled to retreat. And , a few days afterwards-) when 
he offered them battle again in the Great-Valley , the ele¬ 
ments fought against him. 

* Governor Ho tv ell. 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


355 


The twenty-ninth June gave rest to the northern 
states; and Britain, despairing to be able to contend 
with Washington, determined to bend all her force 
against the South. But there she met with the wise and 
gallant Greene, who was worthy to be the brother of 
Washington. Greene was cutting off her garrisons and 
her armies in detail. But her main army, under the con¬ 
duct of the bravest and most enterprising of her gene¬ 
rals, was still reserved to adorn the triumphs of the first 
hero of America. 

Historians will relate with what admirable combina¬ 
tion he formed the plan, and concerted its execution, 
with an ally separated from him by more than a thou¬ 
sand leagues, for surprising and entangling in his toils 
his active foe—with what address he diverted the atten¬ 
tion of the British commanders—and how, after a march 
of four hundred miles, he had so amused and blinded 
them, that he still found his enemy in the place where 

he had determined to seize him.-America will for 

ever record that happy day in which her victorious chief 
saw Britain laying her last standards at his feet. I seem 
to participate with him that generous exultation, that 
noble triumph of soul, which, in this moment, he felt. 
Not that he was capable, with unmanly insolence, of ex¬ 
ulting over a prostrate enemy, but he saw, in their fall, 
the salvation of his country. On the ruins of York he 
laid the immortal base of the republic. How delicious ! 
How sublime was the moment! Britain was humbled* 
—America was delivered and avenged. 

The war terminated, PEACE restored, and the liber¬ 
ties of the new world established on the firmest founda¬ 
tions, the concluding scene was the most august and in¬ 
teresting that the history of nations has, perhaps, ever 

* Suc/i exfircssions as this cannot reasonably be su/i- 
fosed to be intended to cherish national / irejudices y or to 
inflame national anti/iathies. They are used by the wri¬ 
ters of e-aery country in celebrating their eminent states - 
men^and their heroes. They indicate sensations that were 
natural and lawful on the occasion , but are afterwards 
forgotten in the relations of amity , and commercial in¬ 
tercourse. 



355 


AN ORATION ON THE DEATH OF 


presented.-Other conquerors have considered vic¬ 

tory as the mean of grasping unlawful power.—The soul 
of Washington was more sublime.—He regarded in his 
victories only the peace and happiness of a great nation. 
A fine morality tempered and reigned in the midst of his 
heroic qualities. The character of a patriot he consider¬ 
ed as superior to that of a hero; and to be a renowned 
warrior was less in his esteem, than to be a good man. 
He hastens, therefore, to the seat of Congress, to resign 
into the hands of the fathers of his country the powers 
with which they had invested him, and which he had so 
nobly employed in its defence.—August spectacle 1 Il¬ 
lustrious chief 1 He was so far elevated above the rest 
of mankind, that no way w r as left for him to become 
greater but by humbling himself. The hero enters the 
hall surrounded with all his virtues, his services, and his 
glories, of which no one but himself seemed to be un¬ 
conscious. This awful assembly received him as the 
founder and the guardian of the republic. Every heart 
was big with emotion. Silently they retraced the scenes 
of affliction and danger through which they had passed 
together—They recalled to mind the peace and freedom 
purchased by his arm—They regarded with veneration 
that great man, who appeared more great and worthy of 
esteem in resigning, than he had done in gloriously 
using, his power. In an impressive speech he laid down 
all his public employments, and took of them an affec¬ 
tionate leave. At the contemplation of such rare virtue, 
and moved at the recollection of so many interesting 
scenes, tears of admiration and gratitude burst from 
every eye. The hero, touched with the general emo¬ 
tion, wet his cheek with a manly tear, while he deposit¬ 
ed his sword under the laws, which he had covered with 
his shield. 

The last act of a spectacle so affecting was an act of 
religion. Great example for legislators, rulers, warriors 
—for all who either possess elevated stations, or who 
aim at high and solid fame i In that august presence, he 
worships the Ruler of the Universe—he commends the 
interests of his dearest country to the protection of Al¬ 
mighty God—and there, in the temple of the laws, he 
offers to Heaven the incense of a nation from the altar 


GEORGE WASHINGTON’. 


357 


of his own pure and noble heart.-This done, he re¬ 

tires amidst the vows, and prayers, and blessings, of a 
grateful and admiring country, to the peaceful shade of 
Vernon.—Not like those heroes who build their glory 
on the misery of the human race, and whose restless 
souls are for ever tossed in the tempests of ambition, he 
sought only peace by war, and returned from its cruel 
and bloody fields with delight to the first innocent em¬ 
ployments of human nature. 


Let us contemplate him, a moment, in this Retirement, 
which he always chose with such predilection when the 
service of his country would permit him to enjoy it. 

In private life he was as amiable, as virtuous, and as 
great, as he appeared sublime on the public theatre of 
the world. How many conquerors, renowned in history, 
have been great only while they acted a conspicuous part 
under the observation of mankind ! The soul, in such 
a situation, perceives an artificial elevation—it assumes 
the sentiments of virtue corresponding to the grandeur 
of the objects that surround it. In private, it subsides 
into itself; and, in the ordinary details of life and con¬ 
duct, the men, who seemed to be raised above others by 
the splendor of some rare occasions, now sink below 
them—they are degraded by their passions—those who 
were able to command armies, have lost the power of 
self-command—and, when they are not heroes , they are 
nothing. Washington was always equal to himself — 
There w r as a dignity in the manner in which he performed 
the smallest things. A majesty surrounded him that 
seemed to humble those who approached him, at the 
same time that there was a benignity in his manners that 
invited their confidence and esteem. His virtues, always, 
elevated and splendid, shone only with a milder light by 
being placed in the vale of retirement. He was sincere, 
modest, upright, humane ; a friend of religion ; the idol 
of his neighbours as well as of his country; magnificent 
in his hospitality, but plain in his manners, and simple in 
his equipage. And the motives of these virtues we are 
not to seek in vain affectation of popularity, which has 




358 


AN ORATION ON THE DEATH OF 


often enabled the cunning and the artful to make great 
sacrifices to public opinion, but in the native impulse and 
goodness of his heart.—His emotions, naturally strong 
and ardent, as they are, perhaps, in all great men, he had 
completely subjected to the controul of reason, and plac¬ 
ed under the guard of such a vigilant prudence, that he 
never suffered himself to be surprised by them. Philo¬ 
sophy and religion in his breast had obtained a noble 
triumph: And his first title to command over others 
was his perfect command of himself. Such a sublime 
idea had he formed of man that in him you never detected 
any of the littleness of the passions.—His consummate 
prudence, which was one of his most characteristic 
qualities, and which never forsook him for a moment, 
contributed to fix the affections and the confidence of 
his fellow-citizens, which he had acquired by his talents. 
—Eminently distinguished for his conjugal and domes¬ 
tic virtues, the perfect purity of his private morals add¬ 
ed not a little to that dignity of character in which he 
was superior to all men. There is a majesty in virtue 
which commands the respect even of those who do not 
love it, and which gives to great talents their highest 
lustre.—Ah ! if the ambitious knew, or were willing 
to estimate its influence on reputation, and its powerful 
command over the minds of men, they would study to be 
virtuous from self-interest. 

Need I tell you, who know the terms on which he 
performed the greatest services that were ever rendered 
to a nation, how disinterested and noble was his nature ? 
How dear would not a mercenary man have sold his toils, 
his dangers, and, above all, his successes ? What schemes 
of grandeur, and of power, would not an ambitious man 
have built upon the affection of the people, and the army ? 
The only wealth which He sought to draw from them 
was the riches of his country—the only reward, the love 
of his fellow-citizens, and the consciousness of his own 
heart. 

His whole character was consistent. Equally industri¬ 
ous with his plough as with his sword, he esteemed idle¬ 
ness and inutility the greatest disgrace of man, whose 
pow T ers attain perfection only by constant and vigorous 
action, and who is placed by providence in so many so- 


GEORGE WASHINGTON 1 . 


359 

cial relations, only to do good.. - ..—Every thing round 
him was marked by a dignified simplicity. While so 
many affect fastidiously to display their wealth in sump¬ 
tuous edifices, and splendid equipages, and incur in¬ 
finitely more expense to be envied and hated, than would 
be sufficient to make themselves adored, his mansion 
was as modest as his heart. Strangers from all nations 
who visited it, went, not to admire a magnificent pile, 
but to gratify a noble curiosity in seeing the first man in 
the world. Palaces, and columns, and porticos, would 
have shrunk beside him, and scarcely have been seen. 
Like the imperial palace of Marcus Aurelius at Rome, 
the plain and modest walls resembled some august tem¬ 
ple, which has no ornament but the Deity that inhabits 
it.* You approached it with reverence as the retreat of 
a HERO, the venerable abode of all the VIRTUES. 
He had no need to seek a false glory by any exterior 
display of magnificence, who possessed such intrinsic 
worth and grandeur of soul. Every where he goes 
without any attendants but his virtues—he travels without 
pomp; but every one surrounds him, in imagination, 
with his victories, his triumphs, his glorious toils, his 
public services. How sublime is this simplicity 1 How 
superior to all the fastuous magnificence of luxury ! Thus 
he lived, discharging, without ostentation, all the civil, 
social, and domestic, offices of life—temperate in his de¬ 
sires—faithful to his duties—retiring from fame, which 
every where pursued him—living like a beneficent 
deity in the bosom of his family, its delight and its glory. 

Amiable woman ! sole partner of his dearest pleasures, 
who enjoyed most intimately, and who best knew, his 
worth, your overwhelming griefs, the desolation of your 
heart, under this stroke, testify the preciousness of what 
you have lost. In the full tide of happiness, in a moment, 
in one terrible instant, more than empires has been ra¬ 
vished from your embrace. Oh ! if a nation’s tears can 
yield you any consolation, the tears of a nation are min¬ 
gled with yours, llut, alas! while they console, they 
remind you, by a new proof, of the value of what Heaven 

* A speech put by Mr. Thomas into the mouth of Apol¬ 
lonius a philosopher , and the friend of Marcus. 


360 


AN ORATION ON THE DEATH OF 


has taken—has taken, perhaps in mercy, that, when your 
Saviour shall call also for you, earth may not have a rival 
to him in your heart. 

But, my fellow-citizens, among the noblest ornaments 
of this extraordinary man, was his humility, and his 
respect for religion. Humility was the veil thro’ which 
his virtues shone with a more amiable, because less 
dazzling, lustre. Never, in conversation, did you hear 
him mention those illustrious achievements, which had 
rendered his name so famous throughout the world. In 
reading his official letters, in which he is obliged by his 
duty to announce his successes, you would hardly sup¬ 
pose that any part of them was to be ascribed to his va¬ 
lour, or his skill. You are even in doubt if fame herself 
has not mistaken in attributing to him such great actions.* 

What a spirit of piety, what a constant acknowledge¬ 
ment of the agency and goodness of Divine Providence, 
breathes thro’ all his public addresses to his army, to his 
fellow-citizens, to Congress!—Ah ! how difficult is it to 
receive the applause of nations with humility! to be ex¬ 
alted almost to heaven on the voice of fame, and not to 
feel that elation of mind, which raises a mortal above 
the lowly place which every creature ought to hold in 
the presence of Almighty God! Something there is in 
the command of armies, where one man wields the force 
of thousands, in the tumult of battles, in the splendour 
of triumphs, that is apt to intoxicate the heart, and to 
elevate it beyond itself. But this great general, after his 
victories, was always found modest and humble before 
the throne of the Eternal. Like Moses, in the presence 
of God, he alone seemed not to be conscious of the 
splendour that surrounded himself.f The same venera¬ 
tion for religion, and the same profound respect for its 
institutions, marked all his private deportment: And we 
have seen with what a serene and steady lustre his hopes 
from it shone in the concluding scene of life. 

* This ivas said also of the Marshal Turenne. 

f Ab. Flech. orais. funeb. Mar. Tur. 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


361 


The talents of this great citizen we have now to ex¬ 
hibit in a new light—as a Legislator-— and the Civil 

Chief of the American confederacy.-If it affords a 

subject less brilliant to the orator than his military ca¬ 
reer, it is not less instructive to mankind. 

Scarcely had he begun to enjoy his beloved repose 
when the imbecility of that system, under which the 
states had originally confederated, discovered itself by 
so many pernicious consequences, destructive of national 
honour and prosperity, and dangerous to national ex¬ 
istence, that it became necessary to frame a government 
invested with greater energy, more justly balanced, and 
able to act more directly upon all parts of the Union. 
This necessity his penetrating judgment had long lore- 
seen, while he was yet commander of the army, and the 
wisdom of giving a new form to the confederacy he had 
frequently urged. America, always enlightened, and 
wise, even in the midst of her errors, resolved, at length, 
to pursue this sage policy: And Washington, whose 
prowess in the field had so conspicuously contributed to 
establish her liberty, was the first among that band of 
patriots who met to render it secure by placing it under 
the protection of the most admirable laws. Here he 
displayed the talents of a great legislator, and proved 
himself to be as wise in council, as he had been glorious 
in arms. The excellence of that constitution which was 
the illustrious fruit of their labours, and which republi¬ 
can France, in repeated efforts, has, hitherto, vainly at¬ 
tempted to imitate, has now been confirmed by the happy 
experience of ten years. Public credit has been restor¬ 
ed—industry has received a new spring—commercial 
enterprize is extended to every spot upon the globe- 
agriculture flourishes—towns and cities are daily found¬ 
ed, extended, and beautified—population and riches in¬ 
crease—-and even the debts of the revolutionary war are 
converted into a species of wealth. 

But, antecedently to that experience which now jus¬ 
tifies its wisdom, the name of WASHINGTON was 
necessary to give it authority, and to recommend it to 
the confidence of the American people. By their unani¬ 
mous voice, throughout a region of fifteen hundred miles 
in extent, he was called to hold the first magistracy in 

Vol. ii. 2 I 



362 


AN ORATION ON THE DEATH OF 


the confederated republic.-Merciful God! what a fe¬ 

licity to my country, that this revered and beloved citizen 
was yet preserved to assume, with his firm and resolute 
hand, the helm of government in such a perilous and 
doubtful season ! Inestimable patriot! who wast willing 
to put to risk a reputation which it was believed, already 
above all addition, could only be diminished by any 
change. Ah ! thy fellow-citizens were ignorant of the 
full extent of those talents which they have since beheld, 
with astonishment, as great in peace, as in war, in de¬ 
liberation, as in execution—One of the noblest acts, in 
a life full of illustrious actions, was the resolution to 
stake his unexampled fame, and to employ the whole 
force of his unbounded popularity, to rescue his country 
from the degraded and imbecile state into which it had 
fallen under the old system, and to give an operation, 
and efficiency, that would overcome all opposition, to a 
government which he regarded as essentially connected 
with its prosperity and glory. 

On this high and untried office he entered with that 
modesty which is one criterion of great minds, and which 
marked his whole character through life—he executed 
it with that unshaken firmness which is the result of 
conscious rectitude, of ripe and wise deliberation, and 
of the imperious sentiment of duty in a virtuous heart. 
Less splendour and eclat, indeed, attend the retired la¬ 
bours of the cabinet, than the march of armies, the 
capture of towns, and the triumph of victories; but of¬ 
ten they require talents of a superior kind, and often 
possess an influence more extensive on the felicity of 
nations. 

Under his administration, the United States enjoyed 
prosperity and happiness at home, and, by the energy of 
the government, regained, in the old world, that impor¬ 
tance and reputation which, by its weakness, they had 
lost.—Arduous was his task—innumerable were the dif¬ 
ficulties he had to encounter, from the passions, the con¬ 
flicting interests, the ambition, and the disappointments 
of men. His own virtue, and the confidence of the nation, 
supported him. And, amidst all the clamours which 
the violence of faction, or individual chagrin, have raised 
against the general administration} none haye eyer dared 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


n r 

opo 

to impeach the purity of his patriotism, or his incor¬ 
ruptible integrity. 

His retreats at Mount-Vernon, grown so clear to him 
by inclination, by habit, and by that love of repose natu¬ 
ral to advancing years, he had forsaken only to serve the 
republic, and to give, to a new and untried government, 
a firm tone, and a steady operation. At the expiration 
of the first period of his magistracy, therefore, he was 
desirous of returning to that private life which was dearer 
to him than all things else, except America. Ambition 
had no charms for him. His felicity was to see his 
country happy; and his modesty led him to hope that 
her happiness might now be equally secure in other 
hands. All true Americans, at this moment, resisted his 
inclinations with the most affectionate importunity; and 
he was persuaded to resume the arduous cares of the 
state. 

The crisis was important. An universal war raged in 
Europe, and was carried on with the most rancorous and 
exterminating passions. The hostile nations, inflamed 
against each other with a fury beyond all former exam¬ 
ple, for they fought for their existence, would scarcely 
endure a neutral. America was, every moment, threaten¬ 
ed, by force, or by intrigue, to be drawn into the vortex. 
Strong parties in her own bosom rendered the danger 
more imminent; and it required a government firm, 
temperate, but inflexible, to prevent the evil. This great 
and heroic magistrate, charged with all her foreign rela¬ 
tions, -was not to be moved from her true interests. His 
object was America. And her interest, in the midst of 
this terrible conflict of nations, was to remain in peace. 
Faction at home, and intrigue and menace from abroad, 
endeavour to shake him—In vain—He remains serene 
and immoveable in the storm that surrounds him. Fo¬ 
reign intrigue he defeats—foreign insolence he re¬ 
presses—domestic faction, dashing against him, breaks 
itself to pieces. He meets the injustice, indeed, both of 
Britain and of France, by negociation, rather than by a 
precipitate declaration of war; but maintains towards 
them that firm and commanding attitude which becomes 
the head of a free and great republic. He obliges them 
to respect him; and preserves the tranquillity of his 


564 


AN ORATION ON THE DEATH OF 


country. As an American, he knows no nation but as 
friends in peace, in war as enemies. Towards one he 
forgets ancient animosities when it is useless to remem¬ 
ber them. Towards another he renounces a chimerical 
gratitude when it is claimed only to involve us in fruit¬ 
less calamities; perhaps, to put into their hands a dan¬ 
gerous empire over our own, and over other nations. 

And now, my countrymen, behold, in the prosperity 
that surrounds you, the happy effects of thiswise policy. 
See the desolated regions of Europe-—compare their 
endless revolutions, their ferocious tyrannies, their mur¬ 
ders, their massacres, their brutal violations of virgin 
honour, and conjugal fidelity, their wasted plains, their 
plundered cities, with our peaceful and flourishing state ; 
and bless the memory of Washington, to whose pru¬ 
dence and magnanimity, shall I not say in spite of \jour- 
selves? you owe it. Had not his firm patriotism, and his 
sage counsels prevailed, what might not have been our 
present condition ? I tremble to imagine it. We might, 
by the audacity of foreigners, have been stripped of the 
power of self-government—we might have looked only 
on pillaged towns, and a desolate shore—we might have 
seen the sacred asylum of our families polluted with lust 
and murder—we might have been the prey of civil dis¬ 
cord—we might, like the wretched inhabitants of Saint- 
Domingo, have been the dreadful victims of domestic 

treason.-Unhappy the nation who permits a more 

powerful foreigner to obtain an ascendant in her coun¬ 
cils ! 

Let me not forget that, amidst his cares for our fo¬ 
reign relations, he chastised and repressed the inroads 
of the savage tribes upon our frontiers, by the arms of 
the gallant Wayne. And, when rebellion dared to raise 
an impious front against the laws, he infused new ener¬ 
gy into the government, by the promptitude and deci¬ 
sion With which he crushed it. 

To recapitulate, in one word, the events of an admin¬ 
istration as wise as it has been successful—public credit 
lias been restored—public peace has been preserved, 
notwithstanding the most powerful efforts to disturb it 
—domestic faction has been kept under control—fo¬ 
reign intrigue and insolenee have been defeated and re- 



GEORGE WASHINGTON*. 


365 


pressed—foreign nations have been compelled to respect 
the republic—-its power has been increased—its re¬ 
sources have been multiplied—a savage war has been 
terminated—rebellion has been punished—the laws have 
been strengthened— and energy and stability have been 
infused into the government. 

With this wise statesman it was an invariable princi¬ 
ple of policy, that we can never be secure against the 
injustice of foreign nations while we do not possess the 
power of commanding respect, and punishing aggres¬ 
sion. Weak entreaties, pusillanimous concessions, only- 
invite indignity: For, unfortunately, fioivtr is right in 
the morality of republics as well as of kings. The de¬ 
fence of our commerce, therefore, the fortification of 
our ports, and the effectual organization of our military 
force, were objects towards which he ever directed a so¬ 
licitous attention. 

Behold, then, this illustrious man, no less sublime as 
a statesman, than as a warrior! His character is a con¬ 
stellation of all the greatest qualities that dignify or 
adorn human nature. The virtues and talents which, in 
other instances, are divided among many, are combined 
in him. 

Having rendered such invaluable services to the state, 
and accomplished every object for which he had re-en¬ 
tered into public life, his desire to return to privacy could 
no longer be resisted. A second time he gave the world the 
great and rare example of voluntarily descending from 
the first station in the universe, the head of a free peo¬ 
ple, placed there by their unanimous suffrage, and con¬ 
tinued there with a zeal only not idolatrous, to the rank 
of a plain and simple citizen, obedient to those laws 
which ambition would have placed its glory in control¬ 
ling. The pride of reigning he despised. Its labours he 
endured only for his country. And, when he could, he 
cast it from him as a bauble to which his soul was su¬ 
perior. 

On Mount-Vernon he enjoyed his family and his vir¬ 
tue ; but still prepared to sacrifice all his dearest predi¬ 
lections whenever his beloved country should demand 
his aid. Unfortunately, it was too soon required. The 
injustice of a foreign nation had compelled her to arm ; 

2 12 


366 


AN ORATION ON THE DEATH OF 


and he was coming forth to defend her under the shade 
of those laurels which he had gathered in her service. 

■ - -.But the Ruler of the Universe, the God of Armies, 
had otherwise determined.-—Ah! in what an eventful 
crisis of the world—in what a dubious and alarming mo¬ 
ment for America, hath she lost her hero !—Great God i 
thy councils are inscrutable ! 

He died as he had lived, with that serenity of mind, 
and that composed fortitude, which had ever distinguish¬ 
ed his character. Death has no terrors to a pure soul 
which already derives its supreme pleasures from vir¬ 
tue. There are ardent and impetuous spirits who can 
affront death in the field, who are not able to regard it 
with a calm and steady eye in the thoughtful scenes of 
retirement, and under the pressure of disease. The fire 
and tumult of battle transport them beyond themselves 
—honour impels them—and the observation of thou¬ 
sands imparts to the mind an artificial force. But, in the 
silent chamber, where no foreign impulse supports the 
heart, and it is not sustained by a consoling retrospect on 
life, they often shrink from the idea of dissolution, and 
of the destinies of eternity; and those who seemed to 
be more than men in the terrible hour of conflict, have 
been seen to be less than men upon the bed of death. 
Our hero was the same in that moment as in all the past 
—magnanimous, firm, confiding in the mercy, resgined 
to the will, of Heaven. Ah! with what beauty does re¬ 
ligion shine in the concluding scene of such a life ! Plow' 

precious the hope of immortality in such a moment!- 

Rising on his own faith, and on the prayers of millions, 
to the throne of the Eternal, he receives in Heaven the 
reward of those illustrious services to his country, and to 
human nature, which could never be paid him upon earth.* 


Such in peace and in war, in private and in public life, 
was that illustrious man whom all America this day 

* Answer of Congress to his speech on resigning his 
if icc of commander in chief , 





GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


367 


mourns, whom foreign nations lament, and whom the 
most distant time shall crown with continually new 
praises. If I have not been able to rise to the dignity of my 
subject, I have, at least, endeavoured to discharge the of¬ 
fice of a good citizen, in paying my homage to the depart¬ 
ed father of his country. Other orators will rise to do him 
ju stice—history will preserve the remembrance of his 
great qualities to the remotest ages—his memory will 
forever be his highest eulogy. 

The praise that is now paid to such distinguished 
merit can no longer be suspected of adulation. The un¬ 
iversal impulse of the nation dictates it—the first mag¬ 
istrate of America, the friend of Washington, in a style 
worthy himself, and worthy his great copatriot, has given 
the example of it*—the supreme Legislature of the 
Union have decreed him the noblest honours—commu¬ 
nities and individuals vie with one another in the testimo¬ 
nies of their respect and veneration. It is a great re¬ 
publican duty to crown with honours and with eulogies 
pre-eminent merit, and public services. Glory is the 
only reward which is worthy free states to bestow, or 
patriots to receive. All others, seizing on the principles 
of avarice, vanity, or pleasure, render the love of coun¬ 
try only a secondary passion. The rewards of glory, 
to which sublime souls have always been devoted, still 
leave our country to be the first object in the heart. 
They are the homage which nations pay to superior 
virtue. Egypt, by her funeral panegyrics, first taught 
the world the influence of posthumous glory to create 
wise magistrates, illustrious heroes,and virtuous citizens. 
Greece, by the aid of her laurel and her ivy, of her stat¬ 
uaries and her painters, and above all, of her historians 
and her orators, rendered her citizens the admiration 
and the envy of the universe. Letters are more durable 
than marble. Long since, the monuments of Trajan 
and Agricola have perished; but the glory of the one, 
and the virtues of the other, shall exist forever, embalm¬ 
ed by the genius of Pliny and of Tacitus. Yet, brass and 
marble shall not be wanting to record his fame. A mon- 

* Sec the President's answer to the address of condo * 
lence presented bij the Senate. 


368 


AN ORATION ON THE DEATH OF 


ument, worthy a great nation, shall rise to him in the new 
capitol, that, like the capitol of Rome, shall be the centre 
of a universe of its own. Yield excellent Lady ! who 
hast already known how to make so many sacrifices to 
thy ocuntry, yield to her solicitations his precious remains, 
that, laid at the foundations of those, walls whence issue 
our laws, he may still seem to be the support of the 
republic.* 

Oh ! could I make my voice resound throughout the 
earth—could I support, by my genius, the grandeur of 
the subject, I would hold him out as a model to law¬ 
givers, and to princes. Heroes who place a false glory 
in overturning the peace and liberties of the world should 
learn from him wherein true glory consists, and restrain 
theii intemperate ambition. His actions should instruct 
the universe. 

Ru eis of the new world ! imbibe his spirit 1 govern 
by his example 1 It is then only that our tears for Wash¬ 
ington can be dried up when we see his image revived 
in you. The grief that overwhelms us shall give place 
to the delicious tears of joy, when we see, springing 
from his ashes, so many illustrious and virtuous citizens, 
the ornaments and defenders of their country. It is by 
imitating only, that you can truly honour him, and per¬ 
petuate the image of his virtues. Let statues and paint¬ 
ings exhibit his noble port, express his manly countenance 
and convey to posterity the features of the man so hon¬ 
oured, so beloved by his cotemporaries, and who, by 
future ages, will forever be ranked among the greatest 
benefactors of mankind. But, it is not by a lifeless mould, 
or the chisels of art—it is not by the products of the 
quarry or the mine, that the soul of a patriot can be 
represented, but by his spirit, and his actions, trans¬ 
mitted to posterity thro’ a succession of wise, brave, and 
virtuous, legislators, and heroes. 

I cannot forbear to remark the singular felicity of that 
excellent citizen whose memory we honour by the ob- 

* Since thc delivery of this discourse we have been as¬ 
sured that Mrs. Washington has complied with the 
request of Congress. See her admirable letter to the 
1 resident of the United States 


GEORGE WASHINGTON’. 


369 


sequies of this day. The malignant attacks of envy, 
which elevation and merit only provoke, he has almost 
wholly escaped. If faction has sometimes ventured to 
rear her head, and shoot out her sting against him, 
abashed by his virtue, she has instantly shrunk back, and 

retired into her own coil-He had read his fame in 

the histories of his own, and of other nations—He has 
enjoyed the suffrage of posterity—He has seen himself 
in that light in which he shall be contemplated by the 
remotest periods of the world—He has possessed ages 
of honour before his death.—Dying, his felicity has still 
followed him. Has the history of nations ever exhibited 
such a scene of voluntary honours, of universal affliction, 
of sincere and mournful homage ?—Illustrious hero 1 
deign also to accept the unfeigned homage of our grief I 

-Friends of humanity and of liberty throughout the 

world ! It is for you to weep. Tho’ America was the 
favoured land which gave him birth, and is therefore 
entitled to be the first in grief, yet he was born for the 
human race. 

While Washington lived, the people believed that 
their Guardian Angel was still among them. By the 
misterious and holy decree of Heaven he is taken from 
their vows and hopes in a moment when the tempest, that 
has so long beat upon the old world, threatens more and 
more to extend its fury to the new. Almighty God 1 all 
events, and the hearts of all men are in thy hands--save 
us from the calamities of war, and from the cruel de¬ 
signs of hostile nations, who may now gather presump¬ 
tion from the death of him who was accustomed to hum¬ 
ble them! Save us from the curse of divided councils, 
which his influence tended to unite! Save us from the 
blind and intemperate rage of factious passions, which 
his presence has so often overawed! Confirm among the 
people that union of sentiment, and that submission to 
the laws, which have been so long aided by the com¬ 
manding ascendant of his genius!-Our prayers are 

heard. Divine Providence which prepares those great 
souls who are the defenders and saviours of nations, will 
continue the succession of them, while those nations 
continue to respect religion and virtue—and, tho’ Moses 
be removed, Johua shall be left. 





370 


AN ORATION ON THE DEATH OF 


Finally, every thing serves to remind us of our de¬ 
parted and beloved chief, and to renew continually in 
our breasts the most afflicting, along with the most grace¬ 
ful, recollections. If the husbandman tills his lands, 
and calls them his own, have they not been gained by 
his wisdom and valour ? Do we enjoy our hearths, and 
our altars, in peace ? Have they not been purchased by 
his toils, and his dangers ? There is not a village, not a 
field, not a stream which he has not stained with the 
blood of our enemies,* or where he has not inscribed 
on the earth with his sword the characters of American 
liberty.—Ah ! by how many dear and tender ties does 
he hold possession of our hearts! Wives and mothers 
think they have lost him who preserved to them their 
husbands and their infants—the young think they have 
lost in him a father—fathers that they have lost more 
than their children—the republic that she has lost her 
founder, and her saviour—every citizen fears lest the 
peace, the union, the glory of America, is entombed 
with him.—No my fellow-citizens! This fear shall not 
be realized. Washington, tho’dead, is not lost. His 
ashes shall defend the republic that contains them—the 
capitol, that rests upon his remains, shall be immortal— 
his example shall live to instruct posterity—his virtues 
shall descend as a precious inheritance to future ages— 
the future lawgivers and rulers of America shall come 
to his tomb to reanimate their own virtues. And, if it 
be true that the wise and good, amidst the supreme fe¬ 
licities of their celestial existence, are still occupied 
with the cares, and sometimes made the guardians, of 
that which was the dearest to them upon earth, O spirit 
of Washington ! will not thy beloved country still be thy 
care ? 

* This is almost literally true of all the middle counties 
of JVew-Jersey. 

No<Te - Some readers may be inclined to think that 

eulogies bestowed in this discourse , are too exclusive. I 
cm, certainly , not dis/iosed tty. deny , but y rather , acknow¬ 
ledge with pride, that America possesses many great 
men, who co-operated with General Washington in esta¬ 
blishing the liberties of their country ; But panegyric 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


371 


does not charge itself with apportioning the merit of 
others when celebrating an individual character. It is 
the province of history to compare , and definitely to mark 
the limits , of each one's virtues and services. There 
arc living characters who will be entitled to the highest 
praise , when death shall have placed them beyond the 
reach of fattcry> and exempted us from the imputation 
of it. 



i- 

* 













.iH 














‘ 



















*J 

• V 6 * V 

rt V *** 

C U c “ . * ^ O 

' • kC5^v\ ,.y* O 

o 




♦ • • * <*> m ° * * 

- - < 4 * ,C^_. \ c° v . 

- **-<-* ^+ Me * ' 



> 4. < 

% *•-•’ a° 

<^ V) N .*••;. •> 

“ ^ <$ • 'K'. S' ,', 

”. • MSm : * J 




■> * Jy\ • 

ft* ^ •& *. 

4 > '* * * * 'a® 

jT? „ * __ ,^r_ „ *#> /*V5 0 rr . 4 O 

M + OF/f//^ rsr 0 vj? 


0 

.* ^ o V-^-, 
V . * 1 *_?# ^ 


^ s v 




<•$ ^r* 

♦ '"C-Ot * 

« <y +*r%ttv*ir % 

V 7 ^ r * ^ 


v*o x 


A .WS3> * ^ ^ 

V*-*’ ^ 



<Y> ‘ip * » * * aU 0 

V »!'*- c> jy ,«v^ ^ 



« „** °* 

■' r O * 

*> * 0 « 0 ° C ^ S ^ A? 

%*+ *? >'<££■. V v*P\‘ 

|- l/ :|&: V * 
i*\/\ •“* 

Cr \r> *^T» T A 


v*v 

* ,^u/ > . 

♦ & 

• Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 


0*0 •£* • • * A Neuiranzing ageni: Magnes 

* 6 ~«*-?* 4 * *■ Treatment Date: April 2010 

* <Sss\\irV* aN ♦ ■“* 

o a>«* %y si> *- 




Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: April 2010 

PreservationTechnologies 


A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION 

^ *tU]\ 111 Thomson Park Drive 

igt» Cranberry Township. PA 16066 

<S\ * O (724)779-2111 



A ^ » 0 , T * cF vj *7^»' a v 

aA • k ' • # rO^ o • • */* * * * a\ 

.A To. « C /^irv'- ° A* 


*. 'to A 


<»i. A _ * 


’ . <> 


i :§@"Bsf: T 0 ' •‘WHS* v °v 

^ ^ $ v •' 

♦- *•■•'% ‘••’♦ a® V 1 *.; 
❖ «. V «’4’i*. ^ A° > 

- V ;^B^; ^ ‘JIHk' ^ 

.* {£? '*Irv A-\ oW&fvse* e><, 

,. * t y *+„ •v v^vv Jr 

C° .*JW» *. < 3 , ,-i . 4 .• i ’-*» ^ .n 1 ^ -•*■ 

* <5vNv\frV* »N ♦ 








* C^yW/JJJf > 7 o» • W'llKKSN.'*’ ° a5 

°* *••'• *p J v # Trr?«v*■«> v *.., 

*-. % ,^ .v;•-. •*> a .-•.. v 

° A * y%h% . *vwv* ^ 

•JiHIt: *VPT 

1 * c,S vP vV^ 

y ,** \ *W‘ ** • 

a 6 *-rvT* a 

*-_-JPP ll «p ,cr o^v* **o .*•• 

\ ♦ 4*5/722*, * Cv 0 o .1^ t 


..,* V ^ *y/% 

* <v '•• • 

A 4, AJA. % 




’ ♦«’ 

• v < 

° A'*' 

* <y & °yjv^* ^ ' 

<**£&:• + o° .•••• 
.4MES.. To« > 




) I • A*^ * 

^ cA * 

'Vv’ 


+* *+ •. 

• • A <\ - 

A ,*.'•- <£ 


vVfRT 


< V r * ’ 

V »^'°- o 

• ^ ^ * , ,r 

.* '-^ar^‘ 4 . 

••*• J? %/'^^'' .<> 

> 0 r 4 #,, ' # 

0 • _r<Vt _ * O JP .» 



: ^ 


9QOKB»ND»NC 


■»' '■■■'*«■ p * 



*<r<t »!x^ 1W5 H v- C. 

N _ 

a °o ‘.Trr-* .o 

A ..... * 1 o» 












